Indonesian Bawaslu Deactivates Members In Riau Islands Arrested For Drugs

Bawaslu RI. (doc the Police)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Bawaslu disabled a member of the Riau Islands Province Bawaslu (Kepri) Khairurrijal after being arrested by the Riau Islands Regional Police's Directorate of Drug Investigation (Polda) on suspicion of narcotics abuse.

"Yes. For the time being, it has been disabled while waiting for the applicable legal process," said member of the Riau Islands Bawaslu Rosnawati in Tanjungpinang, Friday, April 26, as reported by Antara.

When asked about the possibility of an interim replacement (PAW) for Khairruijal, Rosnawati emphasized that this was under the authority of the Indonesian Bawaslu.

He said Khairruijal is currently still undergoing further legal proceedings at the Riau Islands Regional Police after yesterday's arrest.

"We fully submit the legal process in question to the police," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Riau Islands Bawaslu, Zulhadril, admitted that he did not know for sure Khairurrijal's daily life, because he rarely saw each other.

Some time ago, he continued, the Riau Islands Bawaslu did carry out a electoral-related event in Batam, but he did not know for sure what activities Khairurrijal had carried out while there until he was finally involved in drugs.

"After Batam, I immediately attended an event in Lingga," he said.

Director of the Narcotics Investigation of the Riau Islands Police Commissioner Donny Alexander said Bawaslu member Khairurrijal was arrested after being proven to have consumed narcotics based on the results of a urine test he underwent when officers held the 2024 Seligi Antiquities Operation at a hotel in the Jodoh area, Batam, Wednesday, April 3.

He said, based on the results of the urine test, the person concerned showed that he was positive for narcotics. However, he has not detailed the type of narcotics used because it is still under investigation

The Riau Islands Bawaslu member has been detained to the regional police headquarters in Batam for further investigation.

"Currently, members are still undergoing examination," saidDonny.

Khairurrijal is a member of the Riau Islands Bawaslu in the Coordinator Division of Human Resources, Organization and Training. He previously served as Chairman of the Natuna Regency Bawaslu for the period 2018 to 2023.