Military man nabbed with drugs

JAKARTA: A member of the military was arrested on Monday by guards at Salemba Penitentiary when he attempted to smuggle 89 grams of putauw (low-grade heroin) into the prison.

The man, identified as Pvt. Praka Benyamin Mislala, a member of the Trikora Military Command in Irian Jaya, and an acquaintance, Oktavianus, were at the penitentiary to visit Benyamin's brother-in-law, Ali Latupono.

Ali is serving a 12-month sentence for a drug offense, detik.com reported.

The chief guard at Salemba, Agung Irianto, said someone had phoned the prison on Sunday night to tip-off guards about plans to smuggle in drugs.

Drug transactions are common in Salemba, as well as in Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta. --JP