Two servicemen arrested in disco crackdown

Two servicemen arrested in disco crackdown

JAKARTA (JP): At least two armed servicemen, including an
intelligence officer, were arrested in a raid carried out by the
City Military Police at the Hailai discotheque next to Ancol
Dreamland in North Jakarta early Saturday.

The 1.30 am raid, carried out by the elite Mobile Brigade of
the police force, seized two guns - an FN 46 and a Colt Barreta -
along with 25 bullets, a walkie-talkie, seven dried marijuana
cigarettes and 10 ecstasy pills, according to the commander of
the military police garrison and leader of the raid, Lt. Col.
Otte Ruchiyat.

He said the two arrested servicemen were identified as
intelligence officer Jef B. and First Lieutenant F.M. Sim.

The Colt Barreta gun, and its 15 bullets, was confiscated from
Jef. "If found guilty, this officer could spend two weeks in
jail," Ruchiyat said.

Another serviceman, identified only as Second Sergeant Sut.,
escaped a few minutes after being apprehended,

Ruchiyat pledged to have the suspect, whose is well known,
arrested soon.

"These servicemen have violated the rules of the Armed Forces
for carrying guns illegally in such a public place and being at
an improper place," said officer Ruchiyat.

"They were at the place not because of being assigned there by
their superiors," he said.

It remains unknown how many civilians were arrested during the
two-hour raid, which started at around 1.35 a.m. at one of the
city's favorite haunts for middle-and high-class
discothequegoers.

Sources said that at least two civilians were taken for
further interrogation for allegedly possessing Ecstasy and other
illegal substances.

One of them was identified as Yosep Hungan, a newcomer in a
television serial. Several Ecstasy pills were confiscated from
him.

Following the recent death of a senior police officer at a
discotheque here and an increasing trend for many servicemen to
frequent such places to earn extra money, the Armed Forces
headquarters has reminded all personnel to avoid any
entertainment places.

Military Police Chief Brig. Gen. Syamsu said early last month
that no members of the Armed Forces, including the police, are
allowed to enter the so-called prohibited places.

Like many overclass discotheques in town, the Hailai is often
used by its customers as an arena for illegal business, such as
prostitution and drug dealing.

Top celebrities and businessmen have often been caught in
raids on the discotheques for allegedly participating in such
illegal activities.

"We'll continue to carry out such operations throughout the
year," Ruchiyat promised. (bsr)