Elected Lampung councillor arrested

Evi Mariani and Apriadi Gunawan, Jakarta/Medan

A Lampung Democratic Party councillor was arrested on drugs charges on Monday while attending the party's presidential candidacy announcement at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan.

Daniel Hutapea was escorted out of the plush convention center by Medan and Jakarta police during the function and was later detained at the Jakarta Police headquarters. Hutapea has been on the police's wanted list since May 1.

Medan Police detectives have been searching for Hutapea for the past few weeks.

They had visited his apartment in Jakarta but he was not home, Jakarta Police narcotics detective Adj. Sr. Comr. Guntur said.

The arrest followed an earlier one made by Medan Police in March, when Hutapea was caught having an alleged methamphetamine party with two accomplices in the Grand Angkasa Hotel in Medan.

The accomplices were National Land Agency (BPN) regency head Fendy Marpaung and an unidentified woman.

Medan Police confiscated a small amount of crystal methamphetamine and a methamphetamine inhaler. They detained the three but released them a day later because they had not found strong evidence of drug abuse in the three's urine tests.

Hutapea visited Jakarta a month later and at a press conference denied he had a drug party.

However, Medan Police continued to work on the case and joined with Jakarta Police to rearrest him.

It is not clear whether Fendy and the woman are still on their wanted list.

Police said Hutapea would be flown to Medan for further questioning.

Hutapea won a seat on the Lampung provincial legislative council in the April 5 general election.