10 men arrested with pills and marijuana

JAKARTA (JP): Police apprehended yesterday 10 men in South and East Jakarta for possessing a total of 40 Nipam barbiturate pills, 15 Ecstasy pills and three marijuana cigarettes.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the men were arrested in two separate incidents and all were being detained at Jakarta Police Headquarters for a preliminary investigation.

"Those whose involvement with drugs cannot be proven in the preliminary investigation will be released."

He said the men were being held for allegedly possessing and consuming drugs.

"Apparently the confiscated drugs were just leftovers. They might have used some of the drugs before being arrested."

Aritonang said that nine of the 10 men were arrested about 1 a.m. yesterday while driving a jeep along Jl. Sampit in Kebayoran Baru district of South Jakarta.

The men were identified only as Iw, Tf, Hn, Bd, Yd, Cc, Sy, Md and Ad.

"A police patrol stopped the car because it was being driven carelessly. The officers then searched the car and frisked the passengers when they noticed that some of the men looked stoned."

He said 40 Nipam pills and three marijuana cigarettes were found in the men's possession.

Aritonang said the other man, identified as Syafril Ayuba, 29, was arrested in Duren Sawit area in East Jakarta about 1 a.m. yesterday.

Police seized 15 Ecstasy pills which were allegedly found in Syafril's pocket, he said.

"Syafril admitted that the pills were his and that he kept the pills for his own consumption."

Aritonang said officers arrested Syafril, who lives in Kebon Bawang in North Jakarta, following information from an informant.

Police are still investigating the possibility that Syafril or any of the other nine suspects may not only be users but also dealers, he said.

According to the 1997 Psychotropic Law No. 5, people who are found guilty of keeping, possessing or using Ecstasy pills face a penalty of between four and 15 years in jail and between Rp 150 million (US$23,076) and Rp 750 million in fines.

Those found guilty of keeping, possessing or using barbiturate and tranquilizer pills, including Nipam, face a maximum of five years imprisonment and Rp 100 million in fines.

If proven guilty of keeping, possessing or using marijuana, the perpetrator faces a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and Rp 250 million in fines. (cst)