Jayapura. Police on Friday arrested the head of Teluk Wondama district in Papua for possession of methamphetamine.
Albert Torey was arrested at his home in Manokwari in neighboring West Papua province at 1 a.m., along with his second wife, Viviani.
The two were allegedly found to be in possession of 0.89 grams of meth and various drug-use paraphernalia, including three bongs. Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono confirmed the arrest and said police had been staking out Albert for suspicion of drug use for some time.
“When we arrested the Teluk Wondama district chief at his home, he and his wife were in the midst of consuming the drugs,” he said. “The perpetrator had long been a police target, but we never managed to catch him red-handed until now.”
Wachyono added that Albert and Viviani were being questioned at Manokwari Police headquarters. He said Papua Police would in the meantime report the arrest to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
“It’s mandatory that if a district head is arrested for any crime, the police must report it within 48 hours to the president as the suspect’s ultimate superior,” he said.
Wachyono said Albert and Viviani had both tested positive for meth and would be charged with drug possession and consumption, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 12 years.
Manokwari Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agustinus Supriyanto confirmed that his office had been staking out Albert for the past two months for suspected drug use.
“We intensified our surveillance over the past two weeks,” he said. “When we busted them, they didn’t put up any resistance and agreed to come willingly to police headquarters.”
He said the suspects had later, during questioning, identified the supplier of the drugs.
“The goods came from outside Manokwari,” Agustinus said.
“We’ve got the name and address of the sender and we’re now conducting a manhunt.”
He also said police were keeping a close eye on another public official in Manokwari suspected of drug abuse and that they expected to bust a drug ring shipping meth to Manokwari, of which Albert’s dealer was a part, within the next three weeks.