Security officers growing fat on lottery

Security officers growing fat on lottery

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The underground lottery is one of the largest illegal
clandestine businesses in Jakarta. The operators, backed up by
corrupt police and military officer, are making billions of
rupiah in profit every month.

Jaelani, not his real name, one of hundreds of lottery agents,
revealed that in one night he could get at least Rp 10 million
net from operating the Singapur and Malaysia lotteries, which
operate every Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday.

Jaelani's business group, which he called BC, covers five
districts, comprising Pondok Aren, Bumi Serpong Damai, Ciputat,
and Pamulang - all located in Tangerang; and Pesanggrahan in
South Jakarta.

The gross profit of the business in one night from all the
districts is about Rp 200 million. Jaelani, as an agent, receives
35 percent of the profit, which is Rp 70 million. The money is
then distributed among his subordinates, and he is left with 15
percent of the amount as his stake.

Every croupier in Greater Jakarta operates a different book of
coupons. Each coupon has the stamp of the respective business
group, such as Kera Sakti (Mighty Monkey), AB, CB and many more.

According to Jaelani, each district can consist of between 10
and 15 different stamps and each is operated by a certain
croupier.

Jaelani, who operates as an agent overseeing some 20
subagents, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the operational
structure of such businesses was made a long-way down, aimed at
protecting the big croupier.

The lowest operational structure is the pengecer (retailer),
followed by the retailer coordinator, subagent, pengepul or
agent, agent coordinator, and bandar utama or cukong, who are the
biggest croupiers operating at the highest level.

The high-level croupier is backed up by a consortium of
capital owners, which also include high-ranking police and
military personnel, usually with a minimum rank of brigadier
general, according to Jaelani.

"When unfavorable police detain a retailer, then subagents or
agents are used to cover for their bosses," Jaelani said.

The agent then confesses to be the 'big croupier'. Later, the
real big croupier will deliver a large amount of cash to the
agent's staff in order to bribe the police.

"Usually a retailer can be released from the district police
station for between Rp 2 million or Rp 3 million, but of course
with the help of a patron police officer," he said.

When caught by police from Jakarta Police Headquarters, the
bribe could be far higher.

Bribes protect croupiers. In this business "money talks".
Every month, the big croupier pays protection money to the police
station in every level.

"For subprecinct police in Ciputat and the Pondok area, my
boss only pays Rp 300,000, while for the district police in
Tangerang and South Jakarta, he pays Rp 5 million, and for the
city police Rp 20 million. The protection money does not include
the daily bribes for police personnel," said Jaelani, who every
month receives some 10 "guest" police officers in his house,
asking for "coordination" money.

For an individual police officer, Jaelani usually gives them
between Rp 10,000 and Rp 100,000 each, depending on their rank
and post. The police who ask for money come from various police
units unrelated to the gambling business, such as the vehicle
crime division of Jakarta Police Headquarters and the mobile
brigade.

If a big croupier fails to pay a tribute over two consecutive
months, then the police, usually from the district or Jakarta
Police Headquarters, raid the agent, but not the big croupier, as
a kind of shock therapy.

Meanwhile, if an agent is in debt for one month to his
superior, then the big croupier sends the police to force the
agent to pay the debt.

The police are also used as a dummy by business players to
eliminate their rivals.

"I usually tell a high-ranking police officer posted at
Tangerang Police Headquarters, who happens to be a close friend
of mine, to raid my rival who is backed up by a different group
of police. It's fun.

"When you watch a lottery raid on television, don't count on
the goodwill of the police, it's just a charade," said Jaelani
with a big laugh.