Jakarta – Indonesia will prosecute eight of 13 members of a radical Muslim group arrested for raiding nightspots in the capital as the police chief warned people against taking the law into their own hands.
Police arrested 13 members of the Front for the Defenders of Islam (FPI) after a group from the organisation raided several nightspots, which they regard as dens of sin, said Central Jakarta police chief Edmond Ilyas, according to the Media Indonesia daily.
Mr Edmond told journalists that eight of them would face criminal charges over damage caused during the raids on Friday and Saturday.
"After the initial investigations, eight of the suspects could be brought to court under Chapter 170, Article 1 of the existing criminal code," he was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying. The charge of using force and violence against individuals or property carries penalties of up to five years and six months in jail.
Three of the eight suspects have already admitted to vandalising private property. Another may also face weapons possession charges which can carry the death penalty under a 1951 emergency law, Mr Edmond said.
Media Indonesia quoted him as having said police seized a home-made firearm, bullets, axes, swords and several maces from the house of one of the arrested members.
FPI members have been conducting raids on Jakarta night entertainment venues for at least two years and smashing any alcoholic drinks they find, but these are the first reported arrests. The report did not say what would happen to the other five.
Commenting on the FPI raids, national police chief General Da'i Bachtiar warned people against taking the law into their own hands, the Detikcom online news service said. "I remind all groups, whoever they are, to respect the law, and the law can only be implemented by institutions or officials empowered to do so. Anyone else should not take the law into their hands, because that is a violation of the laws." Media Indonesia said FPI lawyers plan to take the police to court over the arrests.