Yesterday, an internal memo from Jakarta’s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) to the Jakarta Provincial Government detailing their plan to deploy 325 personnel to shut down Alexis Hotel — long rumored to be Jakarta’s most luxurious brothel — was leaked to the public before the agency decided not to carry out the raid.
Armed with a new Gubernatorial Decree (Pergub) recently issued by Governor Anies Baswedan, authorities can now instantly shut down entertainment spots believed to be facilitating prostitution and/or narcotics based on their own field findings, as well as media reports or even citizen complaints, without further investigation.
As detailed in the leaked memo, the Satpol PP was seemingly set to shut down Alexis for good, likely based on a recent exposé by Tempo indicating that the establishment was still facilitating prostitution in its still operational club and karaoke venues. But the raid on Alexis, which was scheduled for yesterday afternoon, was never carried out.
The provincial government says it’s investigating who caused the leak and has downplayed speculations it derailed plans for the raid on Alexis, with Anies insisting that he will take charge when the provincial government eventually orders the it’s complete closure.
“I said it’s not necessary to deploy that many [personnel]. Shutting down [establishments] must be carried out in steps,” Anies said yesterday, as quoted by Tempo.
“If there are up to 325 personnel, what are they for? It’s like we’re going to war.”
Anies insisted that Alexis and all of its venues will be shut down in the near future, as well as other hotbeds of vice in the city.
