Ammar Zoni Claims Drugs Are Easily Obtained in Salemba Detention Centre, Like Buying Fried Peanuts

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The defendant in the alleged narcotics distribution case at Salemba Detention Centre, Ammar Zoni, revealed his surprise while serving his sentence in the facility. Ammar admitted that initially, he thought Salemba Detention Centre was a drug-free place. “It turns out that is where all types of drugs are rampant. It is truly very, very, very difficult to avoid it all,” he stated while reading his plea in the trial at the Central Jakarta District Court, Kemayoran, on Thursday (2/4/2026). In the early days of his detention in Salemba, Ammar Zoni was still able to resist. However, in the following three to six months, a strong desire to consume drugs again emerged. “I am just a sick person, powerless against this addiction. I know this is wrong,” Ammar said. “With all the events that have happened, there should be no reason for me to touch that stuff again,” he added. Previously, Ammar Zoni was demanded a nine-year prison sentence. In addition to Ammar, the prosecutor also read out demands for five other defendants in the same case. “Declare defendant I Asep Bin Sarikin, defendant 2 Ardian Prasetyo Bin Ari Ardih, defendant 3 Andi Mualim or Koh Andi, defendant 4 Ade Candra Maulana, defendant 5 Muhammad Rivaldi and defendant 6 Muhammad Ammar Akbar guilty of committing a criminal act without rights or against the law,” stated the prosecutor. “Offering for sale, selling, or acting as an intermediary in the buying and selling of category I narcotics in non-plant form weighing more than 5 grams,” he continued.