284 officials' urine tested

TANGERANG: The Tangerang municipal administration carried out a urine test on Monday on its 284 high-ranking officials in an attempt to limit drug abuse at the municipality office.

"The test was initially carried out on chiefs of agencies, bodies and offices in the municipal administration," said doctor Nuriman Mahcyudin, who led a team of four doctors in the test.

Nuriman, also chief of the municipal health agency, said such a test had also to be taken by all administration staff, beginning next week.

All civil servants at the administration must be drug-free, he said, adding that should any of them be found guilty of using drugs they would be fired.

Administration spokesman Herry Kusnadi told The Jakarta Post that the tests were held following the arrest of Suryadi, head of the Cipadu Jaya subdistrict office in Tangerang.

He said Suryadi, who had been fired as subdistrict chief, was found in possession of ecstasy pills when city police conducted a raid at a discotheque on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta, early this month. -- JP