Jakarta police detective chief Krishna Murti said Thomas and Anthony Dawson tried to escape through the roof of their office in Permata Hijau in South Jakarta when they were arrested on Wednesday night.

Senior Commissioner Krishna said they did not have the correct work permits.

He said the brothers, who had opened five Chiropractic Indonesia clinics in Jakarta, could face up to five years in jail.

The clinics, most of which were in upmarket shopping malls, have been closed.

Senior Commissioner Krishna said the men could be detained for up to 20 days at Jakarta police station - with the option of an extension - before they are handed over to the Jakarta prosecutor's office.

Police have cracked down on chiropractic clinics in Indonesia following the death of Jakarta woman Allya Siska Nadya in August last year.

Ms Allya died after she was treated for neck pain at an unrelated chiropractic clinic in Jakarta by American practitioner Randall Cafferty, who has since fled the country.

There is no suggestion any patients were harmed at Chiropractic Indonesia clinics.

On the Facebook page of Chiropractic Indonesia Pacific Place Clinic, dated January 7, Anthony Dawson, wrote that patients may have heard of "a death of a young lady that may or may not have been related to chiropractic care".

"Although she was not a patient in our clinic, our hearts go out to that family and we hope they find resolve."

Mr Dawson, who police said was the director, wrote that the profession had been established since 1895 and was in all major countries. "We think that this incident is more related to an individual who should not have been practising anywhere in the world."

Mr Dawson wrote that he encouraged patients to make sure their friends who went to other clinics had standards of the high level patients received from Chiropractic Indonesia.

"In Chiropractic Indonesia, our doctors are qualified with adequate experience, plus degrees and we have working permits to work in Indonesia."

Head of the law enforcement unit of the South Jakarta Immigration office Toto Suryanto said it appeared as though there was a problem with the work permit of Thomas Dawson.

"In the work permit it says he was a consultant. In reality he is also helping with giving services to the patient," Mr Toto said.

Senior Commissioner Krishna said the Australian Federal Police had been contacted after the men were arrested.

"This afternoon AFP will come to see us. We have to coordinate with them, we want to get more information," he said.

Senior Commissioner Krishna said a taskforce was set up with Jakarta police and the Jakarta manpower, health and immigration ministries after Ms Allya's death.

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