T

he ailing and deserted Tanah Abang Blok G market in Central Jakarta is being used by prostitutes to conduct their transactions.

Central Jakarta Social Affairs Agency head Susan Budi Susilowati revealed that during a recent raid she had found five sex workers waiting for their clients on the market'€™s third floor.

'€œWe received reports from residents unhappy with the goings-on in the market, so we conducted a raid,'€ Susan said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com, adding that the sex workers had been taken to a social institution for '€œrehabilitation and guidance'€.

The city administration removed street vendors from nearby Jl. Kebon Jati to Blok G market in an attempt to clean up the road and reduce traffic congestion. The decision was considered one of then governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo'€™s success stories.

However, business has remained slow in Blok G, forcing many vendors to leave the space even before their six-month free rental period was over. Plans have been made to revive business in the building, including by building a bridge connecting it with the nearby Tanah Abang commuter line station.