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)