Bintan holidays

johntoil SG

4 S'poreans nabbed in Bintan for gambling Employees of SIA subsidiary among four friends arrested FOUR Singaporeans went on a fishing trip - and ended up behind bars. By Arul John 07 November 2008

FOUR Singaporeans went on a fishing trip - and ended up behind bars.

The four friends left Singapore for Trikora Beach, on the eastern end of Indonesia's Bintan Island, on 27Oct.

But two days later, police in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan's capital, nabbed them for allegedly gambling in a hotel room.

A Batam Pos reporter, Ms Alice, told The New Paper that the four men were arrested on 29 Oct.

Ms Alice told The New Paper in Bahasa Indonesia: 'The four men are still remanded at police headquarters in Tanjung Pinang. Their case is still being investigated.

'Gambling is illegal in Indonesia and if the men are found guilty, they are likely to be jailed.'

The New Paper understands that some of them are employees of SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA).

An SIA spokesman declined to comment as the matter was under police investigation.

The New Paper contacted SIAEC but was unable to get a response by press time.

On Friday, Tanjung Pinang police operations chief Christian Tory, speaking on behalf of Assistant Commissioner Yusri Yunus, told Batam Pos that a member of the public informed them that four men were gambling in a room in the Rasa Yakin Hotel at Komplek Bintan Plaza.

He said in Bahasa Indonesia: 'When we heard the news, we went to the hotel. At room 356, we caught the four men gambling.

'We arrested them and also took their passports, two packs of Singapore Airlines playing cards and Rp560,000 cash ($76) as evidence.'

Unwind

On 30 Oct, one of the four Singaporeans, told Batam Pos in English: 'My friends and I were playing cards in the hotel room just to unwind and pass the time after our fishing trip. But we never placed any bets or used any money.'

The New Paper could not get a comment from Tanjung Pinang police by press time.

Ms Alice said: 'The police said they have reported the matter to the Singapore consulate in Pekanbaru, and anyone wanting more information should call the consulate.'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The New Paper they and the Singapore consulate in Pekanbaru are aware of the situation and are providing consular assistance.

I was considering going Bintan resort for a short holiday with 3 families. Playing cards in our rooms was among other activities considered.

Since Indonesia has strong moral standings on gambling issue, I don't want my family to be jailed for such trivial matters.

Spending $300 per head on Bintan ain't cheap at all. Not worth the hassle. I am sure Bintan is swarm with holiday makers since they can afford to have such publicity on gambling in the resort island..