Three arrested for selling 'Hwa Hwe'

JAKARTA (JP): Three men have been arrested in Tangerang for allegedly selling Hwa Hwe lottery coupons to people in their neighborhoods, police said yesterday.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said that Chero bin Joni, Yadi, and Sanip bin Andil were arrested with Rp 154,300 (US$52) in cash, believed to be profits obtained from coupon sales.

Chero had allegedly sold the coupons to friends at work and neighbors in Kapling village, Kosambi, Tangerang, for more than a year before he was arrested at his house Saturday, Aritonang said.

He said nine books of Pakong coupons, a Hwa Hwe game, were confiscated from Chero, who worked in a Tangerang factory.

Yadi and Sanip, were also arrested Saturday. Police said they confessed they had got the coupons from several suppliers in Tangerang.

Six books of coupon were confiscated from the two, police said.

Both also confessed that they sold the coupons mostly to their friends. They used to gamble in down time during their respective jobs as becak (pedicap) and ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers.

The three are being detained at the Tangerang police precinct for further questioning. (cst)