Yorris still the subject of police investigation
Yorris still the subject of police investigation
JAKARTA (JP): Police still lack the hard evidence or
testimonies needed to detain Yorris Raweyai, a Golkar
representative in the People's Consultative Assembly who was
apprehended last week for alleged gambling, an officer said.
But, police will start collecting more information from
witnesses, especially officers taking part in last Thursday's
raid, and reviewing available evidence found at the scene, city
police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said yesterday.
"We're still trying to find any hard evidence that can be used
to support the allegation (against Yorris)," Hamami said
Thursday.
Yorris, who is also an executive of the Golkar-affiliated
Pemuda Pancasila youth organization, was among almost 100 alleged
gamblers apprehended during Jakarta Military Command raids at
three entertainment spots in West and North Jakarta on Thursday
last week.
A few days later, Yorris denied the allegations after being
summoned by Golkar deputy chairman Abdul Gafur, who is also the
Assembly Deputy Speaker.
Yorris admitted his presence at the entertainment center but
denied he was gambling. He was quoted by Gafur as saying he was
there for the Chinese New Year festivities.
In 1994, Yorris was caught during a raid on an illicit
gambling den on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta.
Hamami said without hard evidence and witnesses' accounts
about Yorris' alleged role, police would be unable to prosecute
the Golkar representative who was allegedly caught red-handed.
He vowed to continue the investigation into the Assembly
member's activities without a Presidential permit to do so.
"Such a permit is needed only if the member was not caught
red-handed at the crime scene."
Hamami urged Jakarta Military Command, which conducted the
raids, to help police question the personnel involved in the
raids about Yorris' presence.
"The command could do the questioning and submit the results
to us."
Army spokesman Brig. Gen. I Dewa Putu Rai, said the Army
headquarters would consider revoking Yorris' membership in the
National Disciplinary Movement if the allegations were proven.
"We will revoke his membership as a volunteer in the National
Disciplinary Movement if he is later proven guilty of gambling,"
he said after evaluating the relaunching of the movement.
He said the authority to revoke Yorris' membership rested with
the chief of the South Jakarta military district, in which Yorris
is registered. (cst/imn)