Police bag 95 couples in Tanah Aabng hotel raid

Police bag 95 couples in Tanah Aabng hotel raid

JAKARTA (JP): Police netted some 95 couples yesterday during a
crackdown on six hotels and a massage parlor located on Jl. Jati
Baru in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

The police crackdown was in response to three rapes which
allegedly happened at three of the hotels in the last two weeks.

Central Jakarta Police Deputy Chief Maj. Bambang said they
raided Sudi Mampir, Djati, Surya Jaya, Jawa Sumatra, Tetap Jaya
and Tirsa. The Bugar Jaya massage parlor was also hit.

"The police will release the people after identifying them,"
he said.

A few of the couples seemed dazed by the crackdown. A young
girl cried while her partner looked confused. The couples were
taken away in police trucks.

The first rape reportedly took place at Hotel Sudi Mampir. A
14-year-old school girl was allegedly raped by a phys-ed teacher
and a police corporal on May 10.

A shop attendant was raped by a man believed to be a psychic
on May 17 at Hotel Djati.

A man then raped a maid at Hotel Jawa Sumatara, before
stealing her bag and necklace on May 20.

All six hotels rent rooms by the hour for an average price of
Rp 3,000 (US$1.29).

The hotels also provided in-house prostitutes. The normal rate
is Rp 15,000 an hour.

The city public order office admitted it has failed to
supervise seedy hotels in Tanah Abang.

"The office is still concentrating its attention and efforts
on various other social problems such clearing the city of street
prostitutes, street vendors and beggars," Toha Reno, the head of
entertainment supervision department of the office, said
yesterday.

He said the hotels fall under city administration supervision
because they register at the city tourism office.

He said his office has failed to supervise the hotels, and as
a result many of them violate various regulations.

Citing an example, he said there is a regulation which
stipulates that hotels are not allowed to rent rooms by the hour,
but most hotels make the most of the complete lack of
supervision. (jun/yns)