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mid the ongoing investigation into the murder of businessman Tan Harry Tantono, in which influential gang leader John Refra (popularly known as John Kei) was arrested for allegedly masterminding the crime, public concerns are rising that the police are being too careful in dealing with the case out of fear of unwanted repercussions.

John, a 49-year-old native of the Kei Islands in southeastern Maluku who reportedly runs a debt-collecting business, was arrested on Friday last week in a hotel room in Pulomas, East Jakarta. He was reportedly having a crystal methamphetamine party with an actress identified as AF at the time of his arrest.

AF was arrested on Sunday and named a drug suspect after her urine and blood tested positive for crystal meth. The police, however, are yet to reveal the results of John’s tests.

“I can’t say anything to you on that matter, because we have not yet received the written results of the test,” the police’s general crimes directorate chief Sr. Comr. Toni Harmanto told reporters on Wednesday.

Police chief Insp. Gen. Untung S. Rajab said that the police were facing no constraints in processing the case.

“What problems? Who says we have any problems with the investigation? Everything is going smoothly,” he said.

He also said that the police would be ready for any threat from Kei’s people, should they decide to retaliate for John’s arrest.

“We are still looking into [the possibility of retaliation]. However, no one should ever question [our readiness]. It’s just part of our job. We face threats everyday,” Untung said.

He denied allegations that the police maintained close relationships with mass organizations like John’s in order to use them for illicit purposes.

John’s organization, the Kei Youth Force (Amkei), was established in 1999 amid ongoing turmoil in Maluku to encourage unity among Jakartans from the Kei Island and preventing them from turning on each other.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters staged a rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Wednesday, urging the police to not be afraid in giving the heaviest sentence possible to John.

Local media reported that protesters came from the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR), the Betawi Communication Forum (Forkabi), as well as some eastern Indonesian regions, including Ternate, Flores, and Timor.

Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told reporters that the police were still waiting for John to recover from his wounds before interrogating him in relation to the murder.

John was shot in the leg for reportedly resisting arrest and has been treated at the National Police’s Dr. Sukanto Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, since Friday.

The police have charged him under the Criminal Code for premeditated murder and assisting a crime.

The case has placed under the spotlight alleged close business relationships between businessmen and mass organizations in Jakarta, which provide security and debt-collecting services.

“Businessmen tend to use these services because it will be faster and more efficient. Doing it legally would some times take too much effort and money,” Indonesian Entertainment and Recreation Center Entrepreneurs (PPRHU) chairman Adrian Mailete told The Jakarta Post.

“We all know that it breaks the rules, but these guys get the job done,” he said.

Adrian did not deny that dealing with these groups brought its own share of high-level risks. “Most of these organizations are illegal and tend to resort to violence. Furthermore, once you obtain their services, you will be bound to them for life,” he said.

“It’s like this: If you want them to scratch your back, you have to be willing to scratch theirs,” he explained.

Rikwanto urged the public to use police officers for security purposes instead of hiring thugs.

“We may not have enough officers to grant security demands, but we will do our best to protect all Jakartans,” he said.