Pubdate: Fri, 08 Apr 2016
Source: Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Copyright: The Jakarta Post
Contact:  http://www.thejakartapost.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/645
Authors: Andi Hajramurni, Ina Parlina and Nani Afrida
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

LOCAL COMMANDER TO BE FIRED OVER DRUGS

The South Sulawesi Wirabuana Military Command proposed on Thursday 
that the Army chief of staff dismiss Makassar Military commander Col. 
Inf. Jefri Oktavian Rotti for consuming drugs.

"We have recommended his dismissal and for his successor to be 
inaugurated soon," Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Agus Surya 
Bakti said.

Jefri was arrested while allegedly consuming drugs with the head of 
the operations command and control center, Lt. Col. Budi Iman 
Santoso, and five civilians at a hotel in Makassar on Wednesday.

The arrest was made by a military police team led by Wirabuana 
Military Command chief of staff Brig. Gen. Supartodi based on 
information from the community.

All suspects apparently tested positive for drugs in urine tests, but 
it was not yet clear for what kind of substances. Samples from the 
scene are currently being examined by the National Narcotic Agency's 
(BNN) and the Wirabuana military police.

Agus said that apart from being dismissed from their posts, the two 
military officers would also face legal proceedings.

"They will for sure be legally processed and sentenced according to 
the law, but we still have to wait for the results of the 
investigation," he said, adding that investigators were looking into 
possible involvement by other parties, including the drug dealer.

Agus said the five civilians, identified as couple Nas, 47, and Uc, 
30, Bim, 38, As, 34, and Fit, 27, had been handed over to Makassar police.

Separately, Army chief of staff Gen. Mulyono said the military would 
impose adequate penalties against Budi, adding that his case was 
still being processed.

"It can be [early] retirement or dismissal," Mulyono said on the 
sidelines of an event at the State Palace on Thursday.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu deemed drug abuse a threat to the 
country, saying the military district command chief deserved to be 
sacked, since the country had declared a war against drugs.

"Even the President [Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo] himself has called for 
imposing the death sentence against those drug dealers," he added.

Ryamizard said the military had started requiring officers to take 
drug tests before being promoted to higher ranks.

Similarly, Army deputy chief of staff Lieut. Gen. Erwin Syafitri said 
military personnel involved in drug crimes would receive serious 
punishment, including dismissal.

"The worst punishment actually is administrative punishment, which is 
dismissal, and it will be decided by the Officers Honorary Council," 
Erwin told reporters.

He stressed there would be no discrimination based on whether an 
officer was of a high or low rank.

"Soldiers and generals are the same, they are troops, so the 
treatment for those involved with drugs will be the same as well," Erwin said.

The number of military personnel caught using drugs has been on the 
rise. Based on Indonesian Military (TNI) data, there were 169 drug 
cases in 2015, 155 cases in 2014, 235 cases in 2013 and 161 cases in 
2012. The suspects were not only low-ranking soldiers but also 
included middle- and high-ranking officers.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom