Police want severe penalties for drug users

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata urged the courts yesterday to mete out heavy sentences to psychotropic drug users to discourage them and other people from consuming the drugs.

"The courts must give heavy sentences to the drug users according to Law No. 5/1997 on psychotropic drugs," Hamami said after installing eight new officers at the City Police Headquarters.

According to the law, convicted drug users, producers, distributors, importers and owners face prison terms of between four years and 15 years and fines of between Rp 150 million (US$57,692) and Rp 750 million.

He said the police had sent many drug users to court. They were arrested in a series of crackdowns against drugs at discotheques and entertainment centers in the city. The crackdowns were aimed at netting users and drug pushers who usually operate at discotheques.

The latest batch of hundreds of alleged drug users, apprehended during the raids, were asked to undergo urine tests.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said users were sent to court if they tested positive.

New officers installed by Hamami yesterday included Col. Fachruddin Bakar who was assigned as the new chief of the Directorate of Traffic, Col. Bambang Aris Sampurnojati as chief of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, Lt. Col. Suharmanu as chief of the Directorate of Personnel, and Col. Alexander Barus as chief the Directorate of Logistics. (jun)