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Indonesia police arrest 58 in raid on Jakarta gay sauna

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct 8: Police say they arrested 58 men, including several foreigners, in a raid of a gay sauna in Indonesia's capital.
Police in Santa Fe, N.M., lead away protester organizer Jennifer Marley of San Ildefonso Pueblo in hand restraints on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. Santa Fe police say they arrested at least 12 people to contain protest against an annual pageant marking the return of Spanish conquistador Don Diego de Vargas to New Mexico following a 17th century Indian revolt. (AP)
By Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct 8: Police say they arrested 58 men, including several foreigners, in a raid of a gay sauna in Indonesia's capital.


Police spokesman Argo Yuwono says Friday's raid in downtown Jakarta will lead to seven people being charged under Indonesia's pornography law, including the sauna's owner and staffers. He said Sunday that the other 51 men will be released if they are found to not be criminals or carrying drugs.


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The maximum penalty for those found guilty of pornography charges is 10 years in prison.


Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia except in Aceh province, but the country's LGBT community has come under siege recently. Police have set up a special task force to investigate activities by gays and a case before the country's top court is seeking to criminalize homosexual sex.


 

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