Surabaya police will present investigation papers to Indonesian prosecutors next week over the arrest of a 22-year-old Malaysian at Juanda International Airport on July 29.
The suspect was allegedly found with 990g of methamphetamine and 1,089 ecstasy pills strapped to his body after arriving on a flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Juanda International Airport falls under the jurisdiction of the Sidoarjo police. Its narcotics chief, Dwi Gastimur Wanti, said investigators will review the case with prosecutors on Monday.
“On Monday, we plan to present the case to the prosecution.
“Investigators are conducting a case presentation with prosecutors to assess the evidence and determine the next legal steps,” Dwi Gastimur told Malaysiakini.
He said the suspect, who departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Surabaya, remains in Sidoarjo police custody.
Dwi Gastimur previously told Malaysiakini that Indonesian law allows a suspect to be detained for up to six days at the city police lock-up before investigators can apply to police headquarters in Jakarta for an extension of up to 40 days.
The suspect would then be transferred to district police custody.
“The investigations are still developing. We will release more information at a later date,” he added.
Lawyer raises rights concerns
Community Legal Aid Institute lawyer Yosua Octavian, however, cautioned against focusing solely on whether administrative procedures had been followed.
“Procedural and substantive aspects must also be examined. For example, in this case, we know that the alleged offender is not an Indonesian citizen.
“So, has a qualified interpreter been provided? What about the person’s consular rights?
“The same questions apply to legal assistance and access to a lawyer,” Yosua told Malaysiakini.
It remains unclear whether Wisma Putra, through the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, has been granted consular access to the suspect.
It is also unclear whether consular access has been granted to a Malaysia Airlines pilot arrested at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on July 28 in a separate drug trafficking case.
Yosua also questioned whether the suspects’ right to legal representation was being meaningfully upheld.
“In many cases, the right to legal assistance is treated merely as a box-ticking exercise. It can be as simple as saying: a lawyer has already been provided, so the obligation has been fulfilled.
“If the lawyer was appointed directly by the police, can that lawyer realistically be expected to defend the alleged offender’s interests to the fullest extent?
“In practice, this can be quite difficult,” he added.
Agong calls for tighter controls
Earlier today, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar called on relevant ministries and agencies to tighten security controls and enhance enforcement at all Malaysian airports and entry points.
In a post on His Majesty’s Facebook page, the king said the measures were important to curb drug smuggling and prevent cross-border criminal activities that could threaten public safety and order.
“Security at the country’s entry points must always be strengthened through more effective enforcement, continuous monitoring and close cooperation among all relevant agencies,” he said after granting an audience to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Istana Bukit Tunku.
String of arrests raises security concerns
The Surabaya case is among a string of recent drug-linked arrests involving Malaysians travelling through airports in Malaysia and Indonesia.
A day before the Surabaya arrest, Indonesian authorities detained a 39-year-old Malaysia Airlines pilot at Soekarno-Hatta airport after he arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur.
More than 70,000 ecstasy pills and methamphetamine were allegedly found in his luggage.
The case triggered scrutiny over security at KLIA after Malaysian authorities confirmed that the pilot and his luggage had cleared screening before departing for Jakarta.
Separately, three Malaysian women from Sabah were arrested at Soekarno-Hatta airport after Indonesian authorities allegedly found smaller quantities of drugs on them, believed to be for personal consumption.
The cases have prompted the government to review airport security measures.
The cabinet this week agreed that police will boost aviation security duties at KLIA.
Malaysia Aviation Group has also been directed to review its background and health-screening procedures for pilots and co-pilots. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.