Soccer match-fixing probe to go on

Soccer match-fixing probe to go on

JAKARTA (JP): Police rejected yesterday reports that they
would stop investigating an alleged soccer match-fixing and
bribery scam because it involved too many parties.

"That (allegation) is untrue. We are collecting more evidence
and are determined to proceed with the investigation," city
police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said.

Police will find out the identities of all the parties
involved in the racket, he said. "We'll take all the suspects to
court."

The authorities will summon as many witnesses as possible to
get the evidence they need, he said.

Police questioned two more referees yesterday, bringing the
total number of witnesses to 12.

Aritonang identified the two referees as Dadang S, a referee
from Bandung, West Java, and Mulyana Soebari, a member of the
Commission of Regional Referees.

He refused to disclose the results of the preliminary police
investigation but said that bribery was involved.

"We found during our investigation that some of the witnesses
might have been involved in the bribery and match-fixing
schemes."

Police have questioned the referees and managers of some
soccer clubs since Friday last week following the All-Indonesian
Soccer Federation's finding of alleged match-fixing and bribery
rackets believed to be arranged by a senior referee, Djafar Umar.

Djafar allegedly fixed soccer matches, especially during last
season's Indonesian League, which began late last year.

He is believed to have either offered or been asked by certain
clubs to fix the matches to the clubs' advantage in exchange for
money. Some other referees were believed to have been involved in
the scam.

The federation has banned Djafar from refereeing for 20 years
and asked the police to investigate the case.

Aritonang said the police would not charged Djafar with match-
fixing and bribery until they had collected enough hard evidence.

Djafar will be summoned for questioning as a witness next
week, he said. (cst)