Two policemen face the chop for drug possession

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two city police officers arrested for possessing putaw (low-grade heroin) last week will be dishonorably discharged from the service, an officer says.

City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said the city police's internal affairs had found enough evidence to prove the two offices were guilty. Both men are being detained at the police detention center.

"We will soon dismiss them from the police force as we can't tolerate an officer being involved with drugs. As law enforcers, we should set a good example," Firman said.

The two officers will also be brought before a disciplinary committee to determine whether they should be taken to court.

Chief Brig. Agus Salim Hasibuan, 30, was arrested on Wednesday in Rawa Jati, Pancoran, South Jakarta, while Chief Brig. Jabir Jamal was apprehended in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

Both were reportedly in possession of a half kilogram of putaw when they were arrested.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said that Agus was arrested after police received information from two suspected drug dealers, identified as Gunawan and Deni, earlier last week.

"Gunawan and Deni said they obtained their drugs from Agus. We searched for Agus and found him in Pancoran and then we arrested Jabir in Pasar Minggu," he said.

Tjiptono said the internal affairs department was investigating whether either of them were members of a drug trafficking syndicate.

Agus and Jabir were members of the riot squad at city police headquarters.

The arrests of Agus and Jabir are just two cases involving police officers in drug dealing.

In April, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) apprehended three police officers for drug dealing. The three, identified as Central Jakarta Police drug unit members Brig. Boby Siagian, Brig. Fauzan and Brig. Yanuar, were arrested at a rave party in Intan Ratu Hotel, Central Jakarta.

BNN seized 10 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) from the hotel room.

Earlier, a police officer identified as Brig. AS was brought before the police's disciplinary committee for selling drugs, supposedly to be used as evidence, to his neighbors to earn money to pay off his debts.

The committee ruled that Brig. AS should be dismissed from the force.