The suspect, who had tested positive for consuming ecstasy while driving, has been identified as TP. He worked as a civil servant at the South Jakarta Metropolitan Police's logistics unit for five years, South Jakarta Police Chief Sen. Coms. Bastoni Purnama noted here on Monday.
TP is currently under police custody, he remarked, adding that for investigation purposes, the police had confiscated his driving license, vehicle ownership documents, and van as well as seven bicycles as evidence of crime.
TP drove a van under the influence of drug on Dec 28 and crashed into seven bicyclists at around 6:10 a.m. local time. The bicyclists sustained injuries. Two of them were gravely injured and had to be admitted to a local hospital.
According to Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Sen. Coms. Yusri Yunus, the police charged the suspect with Articles 310 and 310 of Law No. 22 of 2009 on traffic and land transportation.
Referring to the traffic law, the suspect is subject to a jail term of up to 10 years, Yunus stated.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been embroiled in a vicious circle.
According to the National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report, some 50 drug use-related deaths occur in a day in Indonesia. However, their deaths have failed to deter other drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Hence, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the country is estimated to reach nearly Rp66 trillion.
Due to the ongoing serious threats posed by these drug lords, on December 5, 2019, BNN Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko discussed drug-related issues encompassing Indonesia's war on drugs, including the need to execute death row convicts, with top security minister Mahfud MD.
"Capital punishment is part of the laws that should be implemented," Winarko told journalists following his meeting with the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs.
Several death row prisoners have yet to be executed for drug-related offences. Apart from this issue, he also deliberated on several other matters, including drugs in prison.
He opined that the easiest strategy to deal with incidents of drugs in prison was to stall communication networks inside penitentiaries to halt drug transactions. Related news: A van driver under drug influence hits seven bicyclists in Jakarta
Related news: A suspected drug dealer shot dead: Jakarta police
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Laily R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
