Police urged to reveal other Ecstasy cases

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives wants police to have success in Ecstasy-related cases after bringing suspect Zarina home from her hideout in Houston, U.S.

Abu Hasan Sazili, deputy chairman of the Commission I of the House, said Zarina's return from Houston to Jakarta on Sunday relieved everyone.

Police should work harder to reveal other Ecstasy-related cases, he said.

Commission I deals with, among other things, foreign affairs, information, and defense and security matters.

Zarina, 24, escaped from Tangerang detectives on Aug. 8 after police found 29,677 Ecstasy pills in her house the day before.

"Now that Zarina is re-arrested, police need to make an inter- sectoral probe into all Ecstasy-related cases. I believe that all Indonesian people want that," Abu Hasan said.

He said National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo had promised to probe Ecstasy distribution networks.

"Let's support the police, by giving them information about Ecstasy-related cases. Input from the people will be useful to police in their operation," he said.

Abu Hasan, who is of the ruling Golkar faction, told Antara yesterday it was possible for Indonesian police to cooperate with other countries' police when dealing with Ecstasy cases.

"Indonesia has ratified the United Nations' convention on psychotropics. This means we can cooperate with police and other institutions from other countries," he said.

As Ecstasy is very dangerous it is imperative that the government is determined to eliminate its abuse, he said.

"Ecstasy abuse has become a serious topic discussed at international meetings, including the International Parliament Union," he said.

Speaking of legal consequences Zarina faces, Abu Hasan said Zarina must be no exception in law. "As an Indonesian citizen Zarina must be treated like other offenders," he said.

Public comments

In a related development, people said they expected Zarina's rearrest would reveal a bigger Ecstasy network in the country.

Asep Kurniawan, a student of the University of Indonesia, told Antara Zarina might have cooperated with local and international Ecstasy syndicates. "We hope the court can reveal many things in her (Zarina's) trial".

Asep, who majors in public health, expected the case would be handled according to legal procedures. Those found guilty deserved punishment, who ever they were, he said.

"We'd like to know if Zarina got assistant from certain people to escape to Houston," he said.

A resident of Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, Sanwani, shared his opinion, saying the law must be preserved in this case. "This is very important in our effort to curb drug businesses in the country, and that includes Ecstasy," Sanwani said.

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo had earlier said Zarina might be member of an international syndicate.

"Police want to re-question the suspect to make everything clearer," Dibyo said. (sur)