Youth organization chairman arrested in gambling den sting

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Golkar-affiliated Pemuda Pancasila youth organization, Yorris Raweyai, 47, was apprehended Thursday for alleged gambling.

But he was released the following day.

Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said yesterday that Yorris, who is also a member of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), was caught along with 12 other alleged gamblers during a routine operation at the Kiss Me amusement center on Jl. Gadjah Mada in West Jakarta.

"He did not resist arrest."

Nachrowi said that Yorris was later handed over to Jakarta Police, after being questioned at Jakarta Military Command's headquarters.

"The reason for his release was that he is an MPR member, who can be caught or summoned only with the President's knowledge and approval."

But Nachrowi maintains that if someone was caught red-handed violating existing rules, investigators could uphold their duties to arrest and question them at police headquarters.

He cited 1970 Law No. 13 Article 4 on the investigators' treatment of MPR/House of Representatives (DPR) members, which states that investigators could arrest or apprehend the members and only need to notify the Attorney General's Office which would later pass on the notification letter to the President or the House speaker.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that police had not received any of the arrested gamblers, including Yorris.

"Up to this moment, they haven't arrived," he said.

Aritonang also said that even if an MPR member was caught red- handed, investigators would keep investigating them without necessarily seeking approval from the President or House speaker.

"But the investigators have to report it to the Attorney General, who will later pass on the report to the President or the House speaker," he said.

The military night raid was a routine integrated operation, involving both the military and police officers. The operation was conducted in three amusement centers on the night Yorris was apprehended.

The operation rounded up at least 100 alleged gamblers.

Nachrowi said the operation was routine and was not aimed at catching anyone in particular.

It was not a reaction to the Indonesian Ulemas Council's (MUI) complaint about some entertainment centers, which broke the law by operating during the Ramadhan fasting month.

A high-ranking officer of Jakarta Military Command, who asked not to be identified, said a similar operation was conducted in 10 amusement centers in West and Central Jakarta in December.

The centers' owners were apprehended along with some visitors for gambling. They were sent to city police headquarters for questioning. (cst/emf)