Carlos Roy Fajarta Barus, Jakarta – The Indonesian Navy's military police, or Pomal, arrested a naval officer last week after he was found with crystal methamphetamine and pages of counterfeit bills.
Acting on an investigation that began on Feb. 27, Pomal officers arrested Maj. Zaid Joko Utomo at his house in Sunter, North Jakarta, on March 4. He was found with crystal methamphetamine and 69,000 pages of $100 bills.
"We have taken a major in the naval service into custody over alleged drug abuse. We also found suspicious dollars," said Gen. Moeldoko, chief of Indonesia's Armed Forces, on Friday.
The alleged counterfeiting operation involved civilians from Bali, who have been identified as I Made Gede Markadiwan and Ketut Srianing. Pomal confiscated two boxes worth of evidence and a banknote-counting machine at I Made and Ketut's house.
"Ketut admitted he owned the dollars during questioning," said Col. S. Irawan, special operation task force commander.
The Navy plans to hand over I Made and Ketut to the National Police's detective's unit (Bareskrim) along with the evidence it has collected. Zaid, on the other hand, will be held by Pomal for further processing.
If found guilty in a trail by court-martial, Zaid could face a dishonorable dismissal from the Navy.