Police get tough on gambling

Police get tough on gambling

Evi Mariani, Jakarta

The Jakarta Police have detained a total of 138 suspects engaged
in gambling activities since January in an apparent effort to
improve the image of the force, following media reports saying
that police have turned a blind eye to existing gambling dens in
the capital.

"In our latest raids from May 21 to May 25, we detained 46
people from around 250 nabbed in three gambling dens," the city
police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo told reporters.

Earlier in the operation, police detained 92 suspects in 15
raids on gambling dens across the capital.

Police raided two gambling dens in Grenvil Complex in Kebon
Jeruk, West Jakarta, and another at a shop-house on Jl. Cut
Mutia, West Bekasi on Monday through Tuesday.

From Grenvil, the police confiscated 96 poker machines locally
known as Mickey Mouse and Rp 4.92 million (US$531) in cash while
from Jl. Cut Mutia they only sized Rp 3.2 million in cash.

"We also raided a den in Duta Merlin complex in Central
Jakarta on May 21. From the den, we confiscated 134 poker
machines and Rp 580,000 in cash," Prasetyo said.

"The reports show that raids on gambling dens are routine
operations for the police. We are intent on fighting against
gambling operations and will not tolerate any violators," he
added.

Prasetyo, however, denied that the intensive operations were
because of a circular issued by National Police chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar in April, requesting all provincial police chiefs to
curb gambling activities in their respective areas.

"The perception that the police have been conducting raids on
gambling dens because of the chief's order is not correct," he
said.

Despite their intensive operation, critics say that while they
raid some gambling dens, they still allow other establishments to
operate freely, as reported by several national newspapers on
Monday.