Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 10/28/2008 10:28 AM | National
The National Police busted a "sophisticated gambling ring" last Friday during a raid on a five-star hotel that saw a president commissioner of a private company and 14 others arrested.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira said Monday a criminal investigation division squad had arrested 15 people in VIP room 296 at the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta during the raid.
"They converted the room into a gambling den with three neon lamps, chairs, tables and a white board used to record scores," he said.
"One of the suspects had allegedly rented the room since January 2008 and had hosted gambling every day from 3 p.m. to 4 a.m.," he added.
According to Abubakar, the suspects had said they were participating in a social event.
"The suspected organizer, YN, offered memberships to join the gambling ring and received some Rp 3 million (US$273) to Rp 5 million every day, plus extra money from winners," he said.
The gambling ring was conducted with the utmost secrecy, the police said, as the hotel was located directly across from the Jakarta Police Headquarters.
Abubakar said the police raid had been prompted by a tip-off.
During the raid, the police seized Rp 91 million and US$400 in cash, jewelry and gambling equipment.
The suspected gambling operator could face up to 10 years' imprisonment or Rp 25 million in fines, while the suspected gamblers could spend four years in jail or face fines of up to Rp 10 million, Abubakar said.
The police are also questioning 12 people as witnesses.
National Police deputy director of transnational security Sr. Comr. Bachtiar Tambunan said the police suspected some of the hotel's employees had aided in the gambling activity.
"The police are currently investigating the alleged involvement of the hotel's management. How come the management wasn't suspicious with dozens of people visiting the same room everyday?" he said.
The Sultan Hotel's marketing and communications manager Shakira Tamayanti denied the management had known gambling was taking place.
"We had no idea what kind of activities our guests were doing in their rooms. If we had known there had been gambling in our hotel, we would have reported it," she said.
"In fact, the raid surprised us. Such an activity would create noise, but we never received any complaints from other guests."
Shakira said the police had arrived at the hotel without prior warning, prompting the hotel's management to ask for a warrant.
"We're currently waiting for police updates. The management will surely be cooperative if they need any help," she said.
The National Police busted a "sophisticated gambling ring" last Friday during a raid on a five-star hotel that saw a president commissioner of a private company and 14 others arrested.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira said Monday a criminal investigation division squad had arrested 15 people in VIP room 296 at the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta during the raid.
"They converted the room into a gambling den with three neon lamps, chairs, tables and a white board used to record scores," he said.
"One of the suspects had allegedly rented the room since January 2008 and had hosted gambling every day from 3 p.m. to 4 a.m.," he added.
According to Abubakar, the suspects had said they were participating in a social event.
"The suspected organizer, YN, offered memberships to join the gambling ring and received some Rp 3 million (US$273) to Rp 5 million every day, plus extra money from winners," he said.
The gambling ring was conducted with the utmost secrecy, the police said, as the hotel was located directly across from the Jakarta Police Headquarters.
Abubakar said the police raid had been prompted by a tip-off.
During the raid, the police seized Rp 91 million and US$400 in cash, jewelry and gambling equipment.
The suspected gambling operator could face up to 10 years' imprisonment or Rp 25 million in fines, while the suspected gamblers could spend four years in jail or face fines of up to Rp 10 million, Abubakar said.
The police are also questioning 12 people as witnesses.
National Police deputy director of transnational security Sr. Comr. Bachtiar Tambunan said the police suspected some of the hotel's employees had aided in the gambling activity.
"The police are currently investigating the alleged involvement of the hotel's management. How come the management wasn't suspicious with dozens of people visiting the same room everyday?" he said.
The Sultan Hotel's marketing and communications manager Shakira Tamayanti denied the management had known gambling was taking place.
"We had no idea what kind of activities our guests were doing in their rooms. If we had known there had been gambling in our hotel, we would have reported it," she said.
"In fact, the raid surprised us. Such an activity would create noise, but we never received any complaints from other guests."
Shakira said the police had arrived at the hotel without prior warning, prompting the hotel's management to ask for a warrant.
"We're currently waiting for police updates. The management will surely be cooperative if they need any help," she said.
