Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives' (DPR's) Commission III Deputy Chairman Pangeran Khaerul Saleh regretted the alleged involvement of 12 police officers in a drug party, triggering their arrest in Bandung by West Java's Police on Feb 16.

The case involving the Astanaanyar Police chief, identified by her initials as YPD, was a matter of embarrassment since she was a mid-ranking police officer, who during the course of her career had often handled drug cases, he remarked here on Thursday.

"This incident is very embarrassing and tarnishes the good name of police corps since it happens at a time when the police is striving to improve its image in society and also occurs at a time when our country is in a state of drug emergency and is actively fighting to combat drugs," Saleh noted in a press statement.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) politician is optimistic that the police would take firm action against any police officer involved in drugs in accordance with Law No. 22 of 1997 on illicit drugs.

Saleh remarked that the Parliament's Commission III will continue to monitor the progress in handling the case and observe the extent of involvement of each of those police officers.

The legislator urged the West Java Police to inform the public about the process of the case transparently, so that public trust in the police will recover.

Saleh also advised all parties to work together to fight drugs since the illicit drugs can harm and tarnish the nation's future generations.

The West Java Police had arrested Astanaanyar Police Chief YPD along with 11 other police officers for allegedly abusing drugs at a hotel in Bandung City, West Java, on Tuesday (Feb 16).

Spokesman of the West Java Police Senior Commissioner Erdi A. Chaniago stated that a total of 12 police officers were arrested by a joint team comprising personnel of the Indonesian Police and the West Java Police. Related news: Police confirms 12 cops in Bandung detained for consuming drugs
Related news: Two police officers discharged dishonorably over drug abuse


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Translator: Abdu Faisal, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
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