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TV Actor Busted for Marijuana Purchase in South Jakarta
Farouk Arnaz | February 28, 2012

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-Lauren-
9:35pm Feb 29, 2012

When will pot finally be decriminalised? It's not any worse than alcohol or ciggarettes. I smoked pot socially all through high school. Everyone did! and I've never witnessed an overdose, or pot poisoning, or even seen how it inevitably leads to hard drug use. My brother uses it for pain relief, which seems a far better option than copious daily doses of painkillers, and I have no problem with those who choose to smoke pot. Same rules for tobacco; don't blow it in my face or smoke in restaurants etc. Anyway, the police are prosecuting at the very end of the line. If they really wanted to eradicate the trade they'd go up to Aceh and burn down the plantations, not go after little 10 gram sachets.

blightyboy
12:43pm Feb 29, 2012

TheTruth - It is not a FACT it is an opinion.

I have known of many people, alot even personally, doctors, accountants, teachers, academics of all description, hairdressers, laborers, politicians, hugely successful businessmen, priests, people of every type, creed, colour and occupation, who have smoked pot, some all their lives, and many in the 60s and older who still enjoy the daily puff. And in my 65 years I have not known one pot user that has progressed to hard drugs from weed. There are many things that can lead to people taking hard drugs, statistics proves marijuana not to be one of them. It is about on par with claiming that people who drink beer will eventually progress to whiskey and become alcoholics. Whilst some will, it is not because of drinking beer.

Now them's called a bloody FACTS mate.

marko1
11:44am Feb 29, 2012

TheTruth - Joining a Radical organization is the entry point to becoming a full blow terrorist....

SirAnthonyKnown-Bender
10:35am Feb 29, 2012

There's also the deep, underlying issue of whether people have dominion over their own bodies and what they put in them. This ideal of physical autonomy though runs into the buffers of mass advertising PR culture, which infantilizes us and attempts to get us to act like unreflecting automatons. "Drink Coke" "Drink Coke" "Drink Coke". Psychoanalysis in reverse in other words. Not Freud but his rogue nephew Edward Bernays, look that name up. People are not encouraged to examine and reflect on their choices in this society. Ultimately and ideally though a person should have dominion over his or her own body and what he or she chooses to ingest. Thomas Szasz, there's another name to Wiki.

TheTruth
10:20am Feb 29, 2012

FACT: Smoking marijuana is the entry point to a world of drug abuse... and does often lead to 'other' more dangerous and addictive drugs.


A Syrian actor who has appeared in several Indonesian television sinetron was arrested for possession of 95 grams marijuana on Sunday night.

The deputy head of the National Police’s narcotics unit, Anjan Pramuka Putra, said Ahmad Walid Mesrieh, 24, was arrested at about 11 p.m. in Fatmawati, South Jakarta, when he picked up the marijuana from a garbage can his dealer had placed it in.

Police did not explain how the actor paid the Rp 400,000 ($44) for the marijuana or why they didn’t arrest the dealer when he placed the marijuana in the trash bin.

“We only made the arrest last night, so we are still working on it,” Anjan said.

Mesrieh was brought out by the police to face the press but did not make a statement.

Police said Mesrieh claimed he used marijuana to help him sleep. They also said the actor had told them his dealer’s name was Nanu.

The actor has had roles in the TV series “Putri Yang Ditukar” and “Di Bawah Lindungan Kabah.” He has also been in commercials for Magnum ice cream and Pepsodent toothpaste.

“He doesn’t play leading roles, he’s a freelancer,” Anjan said.

Jakarta Police have made several drug arrests involving Indonesian celebrities in the past. They have also announced plans to start drug testing at movie and television shoots.

Police also announced on Monday the arrest of two African nationals who had bought drugs at Jakarta’s famous low-end tourist hub, Jalan Jaksa, in Central Jakarta.

The first suspect is a 40-year-old Congolese man named Paul Akula, who lives in City Park Apartments in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. He was arrested in his apartment on Feb. 16 for possession of 27 grams of marijuana.

“Paul said he obtained the marijuana from someone on Jalan Jaksa for Rp 200,000,” Anjan said. “He claimed that he used it as traditional medicine. He drinks the water used to boil the marijuana. He said he did this to treat his illness. But that’s still a crime.”

The second suspect is Osseny Tchitou, from Togo. He was arrested on Feb. 8 at Mediterania Apartment in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, where he lives. Tchitou had 10.3 grams of marijuana. Like Akula, Tchitou said he bought the drugs on Jalan Jaksa.

“He said he uses marijuana to improve his appetite,” Anjan said. “He also admitted that he has used marijuana for the past two years.”

Both men have been charged with violating narcotics laws and could serve more than five years in jail if they are found guilty.

Police and military launched a series of joint anti-drug raids in West Jakarta last month.

Additional reporting from Antara