More soldiers fired for drugs

More soldiers fired for drugs

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Two soldiers and a staff official with
the province's Bukit Barisan Military Command were dishonorably
discharged from the military on Monday for their involvement in
drug trafficking.

Bukit Barisan military commander Maj. Gen. Tri Tamtomo
presided over a special ceremony at the headquarters' compound in
Medan to mark the dismissal of the three officers, none of whom
will be reported to the police.

The two discharged soldiers were Chief Pvt. Julham Riadi and
First Pvt. Irvan Meiwan, while the dismissed civil servant was
Lamrita Ginting, an official at the command's secretariat.

Tri Tamtomo said the three were fired because of their roles
in illegal drug peddling -- believed to be cannabis.

"Despite whatever economic reasons they had, they have misused
their positions to commit a crime. Any military officer or civil
servant from the Bukit Barisan Cilitary Command involved in drug
cases will face similar punishment," Tri warned.

He added that at least 70 other soldiers from the regional
command have in the past year been dismissed for drug
trafficking. It is not clear if the law enforcement authorities
have charged any of them with a criminal drug offense. --JP