Suspected heroin users released

Suspected heroin users released

JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta police announced yesterday that
they have released on bail a young French woman and six local
citizens but that they are holding three other citizens following
a raid on a "heroin party" in Jagakarsa in the city's south on
Tuesday morning.

According to South Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Sylvanus
Yulian Wenas, the 19-year-old French woman, identified only as
Jacqueline, and the six Indonesians released have been classified
only as "consumers" of heroin. Of the three people who remain in
police detention, two have been charged with distributing the
drug, while the third has been charged with illegal possession of
a deadly weapon.

Under the Law on Narcotics No. 9/1976, "heroin users may not
be detained," Wenas said, as quoted by City Police spokesman Lt.
Col. Bambang Permantoro.

"They have to be released, but they must always be available
to be reached if we need them," Wenas added.

Article 23 of the law forbids the use of narcotics, except for
medical reasons.

Wenas said the three people who remain in detention in
connection with Tuesday's raid are being investigated
intensively.

The first two suspects, identified only as IH, 29, and TD, 24,
who are charged as heroin distributors, face a life sentence if
convicted as charged.

The group was arrested in the wee hours of Tuesday while
enjoying a party at IH's house on Jl. Swadaya II in the Tanjung
Barat subdistrict.

Police were tipped off about the "heroin party" by IH's
neighbors.

During the raid, police found needle marks on all of the
participants' bodies.

Police also seized a few grams of heroin powder and liquid and
a number of injecting implements for use in evidence. (bsr)