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Police arrest Makassar councilor-elect for meth consumption
United Development Party (PPP) politician Rahmat Taqwa Quraisy faces a strong possibility of being denied a seat in the DPRD if found guilty.
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A councilor-elect of the Makassar Legislative Council (DPRD) was arrested for allegedly consuming methamphetamine at his home. (Shutterstock/-)
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councilor-elect of the Makassar Legislative Council (DPRD) in South Sulawesi, Rahmat Taqwa Quraisy, 29, was arrested by police for allegedly consuming methamphetamine at his home on Tuesday.
Rahmat, a member of the United Development Party (PPP), faces a strong possibility of being denied a seat in the DPRD if found guilty.
The inauguration for Makassar councilors-elect is scheduled for Sept. 9.
“If he is proven to be a drug user, he will be fired. Narcotics are the number one enemy of the public. We have a zero tolerance policy for drug consumption in our party guidebook,” PPP Makassar chairman Busranuddin Baso Tika told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Busranuddin said the party would not wait for the court’s verdict to let Rahmat go, saying the party only needed confirmation from the police that Rahmat had consumed methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.
“Basically, a legislative member without a political party is no longer eligible to be included in the DPRD,” said Busranuddin.
Rahmat, who works as a lawyer, was allegedly taking methamphetamine at the time of his arrest. Furthermore, two sachets of methamphetamine, a bong and two synthetic tobacco joints were confiscated by the authorities.
Makassar Police chief Wahyu Dwi Ari Wibowo confirmed that Rahmat’s initial urine sample tested positive.
“Rahmat’s first urine sample tested positive for methamphetamine,” said Wahyu on Tuesday.
The suspect faces charges under articles 112 and 114 of Law 2009/No.35 on narcotics that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment. (bry)
