South Sumatra councilor and official detained for drugs

JAKARTA (JP): The deputy speaker of South Sumatra's Musi Rawas Regency Legislative Council and an aide to the provincial governor were arrested on Tuesday night in a hotel room in West Jakarta for being under the influence of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine).

The deputy speaker and the aide were identified as Deddy Rohaka and Enang Ali, respectively, a senior officer with the city police detectives unit, who asked for anonymity, said on Wednesday.

The two suspects, along with two women identified as Astuti and Leni, were apprehended at 9 p.m. in a room at the Mercury Hotel in Grogol.

One of the suspects attempted to persuade police detectives not to arrest him, saying he was an active lieutenant colonel at National Police Headquarters, the officer said.

The suspect showed detectives a wallet bearing the police's emblem, the officer said.

However, it was later discovered the wallet belonged to a policeman identified as Agus Tono, who is now being questioned by police for his possible involvement with the suspects.

The officer said police made the arrests after being tipped- off by members of the public that the hotel was used for drug transactions and prostitution.

"We never expected that we would catch them (the two suspects) in the room," the officer said.

During the arrests, police also confiscated a bong used to smoke the crystal methamphetamine and 20 rohypnol (tranquilizer) pills.

"We found traces of shabu-shabu in the device (bong) and the suspects admitted they had smoked it," Alex said.

Deddy and Enang, who are being detained at city police headquarters for further investigation, declined to comment on the incident.

"I don't know anything, ask the police," Deddy said.

Leni and Astuti were questioned as witnesses, but they will be released because they claimed not to know anything about the drugs, the officer said.

The two women said they arrived at the hotel after the two men had taken the drugs. (emf)