Some of the more than 140 men detained after a raid on what authorities described as a gay prostitution ring being run out of an entertainment venue are shown to the media at a police station in Jakarta, Indonesia May 22, 2017
Some of the more than 140 men detained after a raid on what authorities described as a gay prostitution ring being run out of an entertainment venue are shown to the media at a police station in Jakarta, Indonesia May 22, 2017Reuters

In another crackdown on homosexuality in Indonesia, police have arrested 141 men from a sauna in Jakarta on suspicion of having a gay sex party.

Authorities raided the sex party called the 'The Wild One' on Sunday evening. "There were gay people who were caught strip-teasing and masturbating in the scene," BBC Indonesia quoted Jakarta police spokesman Raden Argo Yuwono as saying.

The men allegedly paid Rs 185,000 rupiahs (Rs 900 approx) to seek entry into the party.

Police spokesperson Agus Yuwono confirmed the arrests which also includes the owner and several performers. While the accused have been detained for questioning, police have released several shirtless photos of the men.

Police show evidence collected following a raid on what authorities described as a gay prostitution ring being run out of an entertainment venue at a police station in Jakarta, Indonesia May 22, 2017
Police show evidence collected following a raid on what authorities described as a gay prostitution ring being run out of an entertainment venue at a police station in Jakarta, Indonesia May 22, 2017Reuters

Police have also said that the accused men will be charged for violating Indonesia's pornography law. Moreover, homosexuality is formally illegal in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation, as a result of which gay men have been subjected to harassment and discrimination by society.

In April, police had arrested 14 people from a gathering of gay men at a hotel in Surabaya. The men were forced to undergo HIV tests.

In another case, a sharia court in Indonesia's Aceh province had sentenced two gay men to public caning. The duo was awarded 85 lashes each on May 23.