Zarina took drugs, court told

JAKARTA (JP): Former TV actress Zarina Mirafsur took drugs in October, about five weeks before her arrest at a West Jakarta hotel, a close acquaintance said on Monday in a court hearing.

Testifying in the trial of Ahian Santoso, alias Yeye, who is accused of using and possessing shabu-shabu (crystal methampethamine), Jantje Gustav Mustaman said that he, Zarina, the defendant, a second sergeant police officer and another person used shabu-shabu on Oct. 1.

Zarina is being tried in a separate hearing on charges of shabu-shabu possession. She has been dubbed by the media the "Ecstasy Queen" because in 1997 she was convicted of storing large amounts of the pills.

Her arrest at the time drew heavy publicity because she hoodwinked the police officers arresting her. She was later arrested in Houston, Texas, and brought back to Jakarta for her trial.

It was while she was on probation that police arrested her along with nine other people in a drug bust at a luxury Jakarta hotel in Nov. 11. She has since been sent back to jail until 2001 to serve the remaining term of her four-year sentence.

Jantje, who said he was an airport worker, told the West Jakarta District Court that Zarina gave some shabu-shabu to him in a car on their way to a house belonging to Ando, Zarina's friend, in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta.

"Then we used it together with her friends, including Yeye," he said.

Jantje named Second Sgt. Dedi Mulyadi and Ando as among those who used the drug at the time.

Jantje also recalled getting a phone call from Zarina one week later asking him not to tell anyone about her giving him shabu- shabu.

Also giving testimony on Monday were security guards at the hotel where Zarina and Yeye were arrested.

Yeye, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges of possession, did not contest Jantje's allegation, saying that the testimony implicated Zarina more than himself. He has also told the police that the shabu-shabu belonged to Zarina.

Zarina, whose trial resumes on Tuesday, has pleaded her innocence, saying she was in the hotel room trying to help Yeye kick his drug habit when police made the bust. (09)