Ticket scalpers threaten to burn down train station

JAKARTA (JP): City police headquarters has deployed a number of policemen, including plainclothes officers, at train stations in the capital in response to threats made by ticket scalpers, an officer said on Tuesday.

Spokesman Supt. Anton Bahrul Alam refused to disclose the number of officers deployed at train stations.

"It's a secret," he said.

"The scalpers are not right in threatening. We've assigned extra officers at stations here to watch them," Anton said from his office.

Anton said some scalpers had met several times with officials from state-owned PT KAI railway company at Gambir station in Central Jakarta. The scalpers threatened to burn down stations in the capital should the company's staff try to hamper their activities.

On Sunday, security personnel at Gambir station arrested 29 scalpers who were about to buy up tickets. They were released shortly afterward as security said the scalpers had not bought any tickets yet.

As in previous years, scalpers flood ticket booths at train stations and shipping companies in an effort to get extra money during Idul Fitri.

PT KAI staff have carried out several raids on scalpers but have failed to stop the business.

Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) vice chairman Agus Pambagyo said on Thursday that the law prohibiting people from selling tickets above the standard fare is ambiguous.

"We can't fight the scalpers. The police can't charge them and the courts can't convict them because there is no regulation to support their arrest," Agus said.

Agus said new regulations had yet to be discussed among government officials, although complaints about the problem were often heard, especially during the holiday season.

Officer Anton said those convicted of scalping tickets violate a city bylaw, which carries a fine of Rp 10,000 (about US$1), and an article in the Criminal Code on fraud, which carries a four- year jail term.

He also said many scalpers at train stations also felt cheated as the company did not sell tickets according to schedule and scalpers were forced to wait in line for tickets just like other passengers.

"With this strategy, more passengers can buy tickets directly from the ticket booth. Scalpers then have to lower their prices to attract passengers," Anton said.

Following the threats, the president of PT KAI, Badar Zaeni, met with city police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman on Tuesday morning to ask for help from the police to secure the stations.

Separately, Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said the public should not be worried about using the trains following the threats.

"We have enough personnel on guard at the stations and we will assign more if there is any indication of an increase in disturbances there," Mulyono told reporters at city police headquarters.

Mulyono also said scalpers had become more aggressive in their activities since the number of people using trains significantly increased due to the upcoming holiday season.

An official at a station said on Monday that the number of passengers departing on trains was predicted to reach its peak this weekend at some 24,000 passengers a day.(jaw)