Islands in focus: Poker machines confiscated in N. Sumatra

North Sumatra’s North Tapanuli Police seized on Tuesday eight poker machines allegedly owned by Indonesian Military (TNI) members in separate raids in several locations.
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Police also arrested four suspects who had turned their homes into gambling dens.

They have been identified as Godang Panggabean, 60, and Ronni Panggabean, 24, both of Pancurnapitu village, Siatas Barita district, Jhon Siagian, 31, of Diwaluompu village, Tarutung district, and Rit Jhon Purba, 32, of Simatajau Dolok Seribu village, Pagaran district.

North Sumatra Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Helfi Assegaf said the police had acted on a tip off from a member of the public and had investigated and later raided the gambling dens.

Helfi added that the first raid was carried out on Godang and Ronni’s house. A poker machine was confiscated in each raid.

“Godang and Ronni admitted that the poker machine in their home was owned by two TNI members stationed at the Tarutung Military Command and in Lapogambiri TNI company,” Helfi said at a press conference at the North Sumatra Police headquarters in Medan on Tuesday.