Famous actress busted in drug raid on nightclub
Famous actress busted in drug raid on nightclub
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While many celebrities in the capital are actively campaigning
against drugs, others are still very much part of the problem.
Several famous figures from the TV, music and movie industries
were caught up in a raid at the Dragon Fly nightclub on Jl. Gatot
Subroto in South Jakarta early on Thursday by officers from the
Jakarta Police and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).
Although police found no drugs in their possession, the actors
and singers were required to take urine tests along with other
guests.
City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said Chandra Arianti
Dewi, also known as Ria Irawan, was the only celebrity to be
named a drug suspect after her urine tested positive for drugs.
"Our officers found Ria Irawan's urine contained drugs, so we
named her a suspect. We let her go but we will require her to
report four times a week," he said.
Several other visitors to the Dragon Fly also tested positive
for drugs. They were all released on Thursday morning but will be
required to report to the police four times a week.
Under Article 59 of Law No. 5/1997 on narcotics, drug use is
punishable by up to four years in jail.
Police and BNN officials also raided the Retro Discotheque at
the Crowne Hotel on Jl. Gatot Subroto, and ordered visitors to
take urine tests. Two people tested positive for drugs in this
raid.
Ria has won several awards for her movie roles. However, this
is not the first time she has been linked to drugs.
In 1993, a man identified as Aldi, also known as Rivaldi
Soekarno, was found dead in Ria's house of a drug overdose.
Nobody was ever named a suspect and the case disappeared after
several weeks of publicity.
Some well-known actresses and singers have joined antidrug
campaigns in the country. They include Ari Wibowo and members of
the band Slank. However, other celebrities have been arrested for
using drugs, including Sudarmadji, who is also known as Doyok,
Barata "Polo" Nugraha and Ibra Azhari.
Several people who move in celebrity circles said lots more
famous people used drugs but could afford to bribe the police if
they were ever caught.
The head of the Jakarta Police's drug unit, Sr. Comr. Carlo
Brix Tewu, said the police had arrested 221 people on drug
charges during a series of raids on nightclubs in the city since
July 11.
"We have focused on nightclubs, discotheques and cafes during
the last two weeks because we believe that drug users and dealers
gather in those places," he said.
He said that during the raids, the police required all
visitors at the nightclubs and discos to take urine tests.