Police, short of a copper, free suspects

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Twelve suspects were released from their cells as the police could not afford to feed them, an officer admitted on Wednesday.

"Honestly speaking, we find it difficult to feed them. For one detainee, we have to fork out Rp 7,000 a day," Cibinong Police precinct First Insp. Fridon said.

He added that the release was approved by the chief of Bogor Police resort, Adj. Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito.

Fridon said they had been detained for a week even though the police resort had only paid the cost of their meals for five days.

The 12 suspects were among 39 people arrested for gambling at a cockfighting competition in a house in the village of Ciriung, Cibinong district, Bogor on April 14.

Seven of the suspects were members of the Armed Forces, who have since been submitted to their respective headquarters, according to Fridon.

Twenty others were released as there was no proof of their involvement in the gambling.

He said that Rp 2.6 million cash, a clock and 12 fighting cocks were seized as evidence.

The police decided to set free the remaining 12 suspects because of the request of local religious figures who argued that the suspects might lost their jobs if they remained absent from work for too long, Fridon said.

The 12 suspects were all local factory workers. (21)