"It's Candy Crush", Jakarta Politician Allegedly Caught Online Gambling in the Parliament

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Jakarta politician, Cinta Mega, allegedly caught playing online gambling in the parliament building on Thursday. Cinta apparently forgot that there was a media camera on the upper floor of the plenary hall.

Cinta strongly denied it was online gambling, claiming it was a Candy Crush game.

"It's Candy Crush. I put it on the table, not playing it. Please, not playing it," said Cinta Mega to the media.

The West Jakartan said she was bored because the parliamentary session was late for more than two hours.

"Waiting for such a long time. Boring. From 01:00, [but] started on 02:30. Please do not add more problems to me," she pleaded.

But netizens and former players insist it was indeed online gambling. One former online gambler, Sylvia, expressed her certainty that it was "slot gambling". 

"That's very much slot. As a player who dilligently deposited in a number of slot websites, I am certain it was a slot that was played by the lady. The break-down [of the game's interface] looks like Petir Zeus, different from Candy Crush," said she.

Petir Zeus, literally means Thunder of Zeus, is a famous online gambling platform.

The problem of online gambling has been an issue in Indonesia, causing financial problems for players. As of 2022, the ministry of communication has banned more than half million online gambling websites.

"Boredom in that Cold Room"

Cinta Mega is a member of Commission E of Jakarta Regional House of Representatives. Her commission deals with welfare issues, including education, sports, health, and women.

Despite Cinta's denial, her party is giving her an official warning letter on Friday. Cinta Mega is a member of Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), the current ruling party.

"Today we will send her a written sanction, a strong warning to the related person," said Gembong Warsono, the head of PDI-P fraction in Jakarta Regional House of Representatives.

Gembong also reiterated Cinta's explanation that she was only playing the game before the meeting started. 

"The time gap between the schedule with the commence of the plenary meeting was very far, so there was a boredom in that cold room, and thus she played that game. That's what she explained to me," Gembong recounted.

Putu Merta Surya Pura, Nila Chrisna Yulika, and Agustin Setyo Wardani contributed to this report.