Singaporean arrested for alleged drug possession

JAKARTA (JP): City police arrested a Singaporean and two locals for possession of 3,651 ecstasy pills, two grams of heroin and 262 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal amphetamine).

City police chief of detectives Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo said the three were arrested at Juanda Apartments on Jl. Juanda in Central Jakarta on Monday night.

Alex identified the three suspects as 41-year-old Bay Kok Siong, a Singapore resident, 32-year-old Goenawan Hendrik, a resident of Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta, and 36-year-old Fatta Kodrat, a resident of Pluit in North Jakarta.

"The ecstasy pills, heroin and shabu-shabu, estimated to have a street value of around Rp 52 million (US$6,164), were confiscated from the three," Alex said.

The three men denied the drugs belonged to them, he said, adding that the ecstasy and heroin were found by police in a plastic bag in Bay's wardrobe during a raid.

Bay, who said he was in the plywood trade and was in the country for business, said he had medicine in his traveling bag but not the drugs seized by police.

"I don't know how the drugs could have been found in my drawer," he said.

Bay also said Goenawan and Fatta were two old friends who asked him to help them overcome their drug addictions.

"I know how to help them and I gave them prescriptions, but not those kinds of pills," Bay said.

The three are now being questioned by police, who believe the trio are drug suppliers. Police hope the suspects will reveal the details of their operation and alleged drug network

Meanwhile, a woman identified as 37-year-old Maya Tulanen was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of producing ecstasy pills.

Police detective Maj. Budiono Sandi said Maya was arrested at Puri Kwitang Hotel, where she was staying with her husband Tommy, who is still at large.

"From preliminary questioning, she admitted she was in charge of producing the pills and her husband sold them to their customers," Budiono said.

Maya said she produced more than 1,000 pills a day by mixing certain chemicals with alcohol.

Police also said Maya was jailed for seven months last year for the same crime.

Maya's pills were sold for between Rp 17,000 and Rp 20,000 each, far below the normal market price of Rp 25,000 each, police said. (emf)