Drug squad cop faces hearing

JAKARTA: A police disciplinary tribunal started hearing the case on Tuesday of Brig. Asep Sudirman, a member of the city police's narcotics unit, for allegedly stealing five grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) that was being stored as evidence in a case.

Asep, together with three other people -- Renaldi, Syahrir and Rohmat -- were arrested on July 2 by Kalideres police.

The drugs were confiscated from a suspected drug dealer, Anto, during an operation at the Hotel Olympic in Taman Sari, West Jakarta, on June 1.

Asep claimed he bought the drugs for Rp 2 million (US$224) from Anto with his own money "to be used as bait to catch a big- time dealer in East Jakarta".

His superior, Adj. Comr. Endang Sutisna, said the only mistake Asep committed was buying the drugs without his consent. "He is a good officer," Endang testified during the hearing.

The tribunal has yet to decide on the case. -- JP