Gowa regent faces police questioning over drug case
Gowa regent faces police questioning over drug case
Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar
South Sulawesi police are to investigate Gowa Regent Syahrul
Yasin Limpo as a witness in an illegal drug case involving his
companions, a lawmaker, a businessman and two girls.
After repeated denials last Thursday, South Sulawesi Police
Chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani admitted on Monday that Regent
Syahrul, a prominent youth leader in South Sulawesi, was found
among the five people and arrested by police during an anti-drug
operation in a five-star hotel last Thursday.
"There is a possibility that he (Syahrul) will be declared a
suspect pending the police investigation results," Firman said
Monday in a press conference in Makassar, the capital of South
Sulawesi province.
Firman was accompanied by Deputy Police Chief Brig. Gen.
Wilhelmus Laturette and Sr. Comr. Setiada Purnomo, chief of the
detective unit.
"Syahrul was in room 1009 at Sedona Hotel when the party of
five was arrested while using shabu-shabu (crystal
methamphetamine) last Thursday," Firman said.
The party consisted of Syahrul, Ansar Beta, a member of the
Gowa legislature (DPRD), construction businessman Sahabuddin and
two girls Ayu and Rina, he said.
"Ansar Beta, Sahabuddin and Rina are now being interrogated as
suspects, while Pak Syahrul and Ayu are being investigated as
witnesses," he said.
None of the five are currently in custody.
Syahrul, admitting that police officers were questioning him,
claimed that he was in Room 1001 when police authorities broke
into Room 1009.
"I booked Room 1001 and I was there in my room when police
authorities got into room 1009 and arrested those who were
smoking shabu-shabu," Syahrul told The Jakarta Post.
He, however, shrugged off the need for him to file a complaint
and lawsuit against police authorities for violating his privacy
and tarnishing his public image.
"I wouldn't sue the police because I do not want the issue to
drag on and spread," he claimed.
Acting on a tip given by hotel staff, police authorities
stormed into Sedona Hotel room 1009 last Thursday and found some
of the guests smoking shabu-shabu.
Ecstasy pills were found in the pockets and bags belonging to
Ansar, Rina, Ayu and Sahabuddin, prompting police officers to
take the four of them to the local police precinct for further
questioning and urine tests.
"Based on the result of their urine tests, Anshar Beta,
Sahabuddin and Rina were proven to have taken the shabu-shabu,
Ayu's result was negative, while Pak Syahrul was declared
negative for the drug," Firman said.
He said the three found positive of using shabu-shabu were
declared suspects, and are now undergoing intensive questioning.
Firman also apologized for earlier turning away journalists
wanting to confirm the case, saying police officers, including
himself, were confused since one of those arrested was the regent
who is also a public figure.
"As a private citizen and police chief I would like to take
this opportunity to apologize for the incident," he said.
Asked to comment on Syahril's insistence that he was in his
room number 1001 when the police broke into room 1009, Firman
said the regent was entitled to his own opinion.
Meanwhile, South Sulawesi Governor H.Z.B. Palaguna said he
would leave the case to the police.
"We will just wait for the results of the police
investigation," he said, adding that no one is above the law.
Police authorities have promised a thorough investigation into
the case involving the government officials and the businessman.
Police are also waiting for permission from Palaguna to
investigate the DPRD member Ansar. The police sent a letter to
the governor on Monday requesting such permission.