Police say they lack evidence of gambling on ships
Police say they lack evidence of gambling on ships
BANDUNG (JP): Police do not yet have enough evidence to arrest people for gambling on board vessels berthed at Tanjung Priok port, North Jakarta.
National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro said yesterday the police could not act solely on the basis of media reports.
He said he wants the gamblers caught red-handed so the police can get firsthand information on how the gambling organizers manage games of chance aboard ships.
Banurusman said it would be impossible to raid vessels cruising near free waters. "It is the Indonesian Navy which has the authority. Besides the boats the police have are not as good as the Navy's."
He said his office has informed the naval commander about the alleged gambling in vessels off Jakarta Bay.
"But we must arrest them while they are gambling. This is not an easy job," he said.
Banurusman was speaking after installing Brig. Gen. (ret) Herman S. Sastrawidjaja as new rector of the Bandung-based University of Langlangbuana yesterday. The university is managed by the Police Foundation. Herman succeeded Brig. Gen. Ali Hanafiah.
Allegations
Banurusman said the media has picked up on reports among the public that allege gambling is available on ships in Jakarta Bay. "But is it legal for us to arrest them after they leave from the ships?" he asked.
Reports say that the gambling has been taking place on the ships called Nautican, Leisure World and Columbus. The ships carry foreign flags but are allegedly rented by Indonesians.
The recent media reports and rumors circling among the public about the alleged gambling on board vessels berthed at Tanjung Priok have upset the police.
The Tanjung Priok port Police Chief, Lt. Col. Timbul Sianturi earlier told The Jakarta Post that the police officers under his command have found it hard to prove that anything illegal was going on abroad the ships.
Even if his office could prove wrongdoing, it would be almost impossible to arrest the gamblers, or the vessels' owners, because the ships are usually anchored outside the area under the jurisdiction of the port police, Timbul said.
Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Tanto Koeswanto said earlier that he has not yet received any reports or information from police about gambling aboard vessels at Tanjung Priok.
He said that the Navy will willing assist the police fight the gambling.
Tanto's statements apparently has sent shock wave through gambling circles. Kompas daily quoted a businessman claiming to have joined the gambling on one of the ships that he was afraid that Tanto was serious.
The man, identified only as Ed, told the daily that easy and safe access to gambling would be disrupted if Navy members were fielded in a crackdown. "Things are becoming very serious. We'd better suspended the gambling for a while," Ed, was quoted by the daily as saying.
The businessman, who deals in heavy equipment, said that the gamblers and the gambling organizers have not yet been deterred by media reports on their activities, because they have "strong people" behind them. (bsr)