Residents want 'casino' closed

JAKARTA: Residents of Gunung Sahari Utara subdistrict, Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, demanded on Monday that the police close down a slot machine center on Jl. Rajawali Selatan.

Gunung Sahari Utara neighborhood head Martono said the residents claimed the center -- located close to a mosque -- would harm the community's moral values.

Martono said the facility, which operates 150 slot machines, opened just two weeks ago. The owners had convinced locals that the place would benefit the neighborhood as it could provide jobs for everyone.

However, Martono said, the center could only employ 15 people at most.

A complaint on the gambling center was submitted to the local police, but no apparent action has been taken, and the center remains open. -- Antara