I took drugs because my wife left me: Lion Air pilot

The Lion Air pilot who was arrested for allegedly using narcotics admitted on Tuesday that he had been using illegal drugs because of his separation from his wife.

Last week, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) caught the pilot, identified only as S.S., in his hotel room with 0.04 grams of crystal meth in his possession. A urine test indicated that he had consumed the drug.

BNN spokesman Sr. Comr. Sumirat Dwi Yanto confirmed that the reason the pilot had been taking the crystal meth – popularly known in Indonesia as shabu-shabu – was because of his stressful marriage situation.

“His testimony in the questioning in Surabaya revealed that his wife had left him,” Sumirat said as quoted by tempo.co, adding that the pilot was stressed out because his wife had taken the couple’s two children with her.

The BNN, however, would not just take such a reason for granted and would investigate his other motives for using the drug, Sumirat said, arguing that another Lion Air pilot had previously used the same reason for using illegal drugs.

Early this year, another Lion Air pilot identified as H.A. was arrested for drug possession in Makassar and also said his stressful marriage was the major reason for his wrongdoings.

According to Sumirat, H.A. was in the ongoing process of divorce at the time he was arrested in Makassar in January. (sat)