Two Bali police officers get 4 years each for possession of .38 grams of meth

Powder meth in foil. Photo: Wikipedia
Powder meth in foil. Photo: Wikipedia

Indonesian police officers are not immune to the country’s incredibly harsh drug laws. A pair of former Bali officers were sentenced yesterday to 4 years in prison and a fine of IDR800,000,000 (US$56,935) after they were caught in possession of .38 grams of methamphetamine in August last year.

Identified as Bob Zery, 49, and Gede Soma Budiarta, 30, both had previously been members of the Denpasar Police.

According to a report by Kumparan, their troubles started with a failed urine test. Zery had reportedly tested positive for illegal substances during a sweep of police forces by the Badung District National Narcotics Agency in August of 2018.

Shortly after the failed test, Zery’s boss raided the officer’s house on Jl. Teuku Umar in Denpasar and caught the duo red handed. Zery and his colleague Budiarta were discovered on the second floor of the home, desperately trying to discard evidence through the ventilation window.

In addition to what amounted to less than half a gram of methamphetamine, authorities also seized electric scales and various other drug-related paraphernalia.

Zery claimed to have bought the meth together with his colleague from someone with the initials “AA” for IDR750,000 (US$53.38). We couldn’t find any reports saying whether “AA” had been captured or charged.

On hearing the judge’s verdict, both men reportedly immediately accepted the decision.



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