Surabaya to Shut Down Dolly by Mid-June
By Jakarta Globe on 12:11 pm Apr 22, 2014
Jakarta. The Surabaya government has set a deadline of June 19, or before the fasting month, for officials to permanently shut down Indonesia’s biggest brothel complex, Dolly.
Head of Surabaya Social agency Soepomo said, as quoted by Antara on Monday, that they’re looking into the names and details of some 1,080 Dolly’s sex workers, of which 370 have been on the list to be returned to their respective home towns.
“We will continue verifying the data of sex workers to request funding from the Social Affairs Ministry,” Soepomo said.
Each sex worker will receive Rp 5.05 million ($440) from the ministry, while their pimps will be given Rp 5 million each from the East Java government. The money serves as an incentive for both groups to start up their own business in their home towns.
Soepomo said the government plans on turning the infamous brothel complex into local handicraft center. Brothel owners who refuse to sell their houses to make way for craft shops will have to convert their former businesses into homes.
Soepomo said he would conduct massive raids on hotels, massage parlors and other places that may be using their businesses as a front for prostitution.
“If we find hotels or massage parlors used for prostitution, we won’t hesitate to revoke their permits,” he said. “It [the business] should remain as massage parlors with no additional services.”