Tangerang officials take urine-drug tests

TANGERANG: Dozens of high-ranking officials of Tangerang regency took compulsory urine-drug tests on Monday, following reports that bureaucrats were consuming narcotics.

"We require echelon II and III officials to take urine tests. There are some officials who are suspected of being narcotics users," Tangerang regent Ismet Iskandar said.

Ismet said urine tests would later be required for all officials, including subdistrict and district heads.

Officials who were found to have positive drug readings would be dismissed, he said.

Ismet said he had been given information that some of his subordinates were regulars at several nightclubs in Jakarta.

"I have asked for the Tangerang Regental Audit Body (Bawasda) to monitor their activities," he said.

One official of the City Public Works Agency was recently arrested for drug use. He will soon go on trial at the Tangerang District Court. -- Antara