T

he police named on Sunday state-run Hasanuddin University'€™s (Unhas) deputy rector, Musakkir, and five other people as suspects after tests of their blood and urine showed they had used shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine).

'€œThe results of the urine and blood tests of the six people show that they are positive for drug use,'€ Makassar City Police chief Sr. Comr. Fery Abraham said.

Fery said the police would conduct a case exposition on Monday to identify the roles of each suspect as well as under which articles of the law they would be charged.

He said that during the exposition, the investigation team would present the dossiers and evidence of the case.

'€œSo far, they are declared suspected drug users,'€ he said, adding that the suspects were charged with violating Law No. 35/2009 on narcotics.

Musakkir, who is also a professor at the university'€™s school of law, was arrested on Friday, one day after students at Makassar State University clashed with police officers after they staged a rally against the government'€™s plans to raise fuel prices.

Musakkir, along with fellow Unhas School of Law lecturer Ismail Alrip and two female students, was caught in a room at the Grand Malibu Hotel Makassar, while the other two suspects were arrested in a separate room at the same hotel.

The police confiscated packages of shabu-shabu and drug paraphernalia found in the suspects'€™ rooms.

Musakkir lawyer'€™s Acram Mapaona said earlier that Musakkir denied using drugs instead of finishing a paper.

Separately, Unhas Rector Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu said on Sunday that she had yet to receive an official letter from the police regarding the naming of Musakkir and Ismail Alrip as suspects in the drug case.

Dwia said she would hand over the case to the university'€™s code of ethics council.

Dwia also said that the university would report the case to the Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry because it was the ministry that had the authority to decide on sanctions for Musakkir and Ismail as well as their status as civil servants.

Previously on Saturday, non-active status was given to Musakkir as deputy rector and to Ismail as chairman of the technical managing unit of the university'€™s legal aid institute.

Many have expressed concern over the case but Dwia gave her assurances that the case would not influence the campus because it was a personal matter. Moreover, she said, the suspects were not in the line of duty at the time of their arrest.

Association of Indonesian Professors (API) Makassar branch deputy chairman Muin Fahmal expressed concern and regret over the case, especially because the professor had been declared a drug user.

'€œIf he is proven guilty of being a drug user, it'€™s very unfortunate. It'€™s very concerning. It warns us to be careful and maintain [good] behavior,'€ Muin said.