Police promise not to release alleged gamblers
Police promise not to release alleged gamblers
JAKARTA (JP): City police officers assured reporters here yesterday that none of the 235 people arrested during a recent raid on gambling dens have been released.
"We hope that all of them will be charged in court soon. Their dossiers are currently being processed," an officer at the Gambling Affairs Unit of the City Police Crime Investigation Directorate office said.
Another officer, who is also handling the case, said that all of the suspects remain in police custody.
"Today is their fourth day here and we have released no one," said the two officers who refused to be identified.
Head of the unit Major Endang could not be reached for comment.
The 235 were caught red-handed in Saturday's raid at the Lucky Plaza building on Jl. Pluit Indah Jaya in North Jakarta by a 40- member Operation Cleansing team from the Jakarta Chapter for the Agency of the Support for National Stability (Bakorstanasda Jaya).
Earlier, the team, led by Lt. Col. RR Simbolon from Jakarta Military Headquarters, had claimed that 238 suspects were arrested; five Malaysians, a Hong Kong national, a Taiwanese man and 231 Indonesians.
"Based on the data available, the number of suspects handed over to us only totaled 235 people," said City Police spokesman Lt. Col. A. Latief Rabar.
No explanation
So far, no institution has cared to elaborate on the discrepancy. Police sources also could not explain yesterday whether the seven foreigners are already among the 235 suspects being detained at City Police Headquarters.
During the late night raid, the team also seized Rp 44.9 million (US$20,880) in cash and gambling game sets at the scene.
As of yesterday, many relatives and colleagues of the suspects were still arriving at headquarters to visit the suspected gamblers.
Meanwhile, city councilors have appealed to the Bakorstanasda Jaya to take stern measures against any military or civilian officials found backing the gambling den.
"The raid must go on and those who are believed to have backed the crime should not be let go free," Saud, vice chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the City Council, said on Monday.
He also urged the agency to seize all gambling devices now installed throughout the city. Currently, many shopowners operate gambling games catering mainly to school children. (bsr)