Police now banned from frequenting nightspots
JAKARTA (JP): National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi said yesterday that police officers are forbidden to enter prostitution complexes, gambling dens and other similar establishments, such as nightclubs and massage parlors, without official warrants.
"They are also not allowed to work at such places," Nurfaizi told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
According to Nurfaizi, the order has been in force for some time. He suggested that many police personnel had forgotten about the order.
"Only men from the crime investigation unit and intelligence division are allowed to enter these places, with proper written warrants from their superiors," Nurfaizi said.
National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo has instructed all regional police to carry out continuous operations to net police officers who frequent such places, said Nurfaizi.
"We don't want to see any more unscrupulous officers hanging around any of these establishments, as visitors or bodyguards," the spokesman said.
"We keep on trying to build a better image of police officers," said Nurfaizi, a former boss of Jakarta detectives.
"How can the public have a good impression of the police if some of them constantly visit such places?" he queried.
A few weeks ago, a joint team of police and military officers netted 13 members of the Armed Forces in a discotheque in West Jakarta. Earlier, a police officer was found dead at a discotheque, also in West Jakarta, allegedly having overdosed on Ecstasy pills.
The 13 Armed Forces members are undergoing further interrogation at the Police Military headquarters. They were ordered to have urine tests for drug use.
Military Police Chief Brig. Gen. Syamsu said on Thursday that every member of the Armed Forces, including the police, are not allowed to enter the so-called prohibited places.
The rules are in line with an order from the Armed Forces commander, Syamsu said. "An offender will be punished under military law," he said.
"Armed Forces members' salaries are low. How do they get money to enter, let's say, a nightclub? They are asked to live modestly. Visiting nightclubs takes money," Syamsu said as quoted by Jayakarta daily yesterday. (bsr)