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TNI reveals increased number of personnel involved in drugs
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has revealed hundreds of drug-related cases involving its own personnel in the first half of this year on the back of controversy surrounding the possible involvement of the institution in the illegal business of an executed drug kingpin.
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Haris Azhar, the coordinator for the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, gives a speech during a protest called #MelawanGelap (#FightingDarkness) in front of the Presidential Palace on Aug. 5. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he Indonesian Military (TNI) has revealed hundreds of drug-related cases involving its own personnel in the first half of this year on the back of controversy surrounding the possible involvement of the institution in the illegal business of an executed drug kingpin.
The TNI uncovered 402 drug-related cases involving TNI personnel in the first half of this year following intense judicial operations conducted within the force, spokesman Maj. Gen. Tatang Sulaiman said recently. In 2015, he revealed that 143 cases were uncovered in the second half of 2015. No data exists on drug cases within the TNI for the first half of 2015.
The TNI is carrying out an investigation within its force to unravel any other cases of drug use or the invovlement of military personnel in drug trafficking networks. The investigation has come about in response to the testimony of executed drug kingpin Freddy Budiman, Tatang said.
Before his death, Freddy claimed that a two-star military General was involved in his operations.
Tatang said the TNI was ready to impose severe punishments on guilty personnel should the allegation, leaked by prominent rights activist Haris Azhar, be proved true.
Freddy's testimony to Haris, the coordinator for the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), in 2014 highlighted the alleged involvement of high-ranking officials from the National Police, the TNI and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in his empire.
Freddy claimed he had once driven a car packed with drugs from Medan, North Sumatra, to Jakarta using a car belonging to a two-star TNI General. Freddy claimed he was even accompanied by the General himself during the journey. (rin)
