Police now banned from frequenting nightspots
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)