Drug suspect could face 10 years<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Prosecutors asked the Tangerang District Court on Tuesday to
\nsentence Lesotho national Ramakau Jonas, alias Npoto, to 10 years
\nin prison for the possession of 50 grams of heroin.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors Faisal Adi and Mulyadi, who read out the
\nindictment on Tuesday, said the 32-year-old defendant was guilty
\nof violating Article 78 of Law No. 22\/1997 on narcotics.<\/p>\n
Police arrested Jonas, who is married to an Indonesian woman
\nwith whom he has a son, in front of a supermarket on Jl. Juanda
\nin Ciputat, Tangerang, on March 4.<\/p>\n
According to prosecutors, police received a tip from a woman
\nthat the defendant would be involved in a drug transaction at 10
\na.m. in front of the supermarket.<\/p>\n
They said that two detectives observed the defendant and
\napproached him. In a search, a plastic bag containing a white
\npowder was found. Laboratory tests later confirmed the powder was
\nheroin.<\/p>\n
\"Fortunately, the police officers were able to arrest him
\nbefore a transaction took place,\" the prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Initially, prosecutors charged the defendant under Article 82
\nof the Law on Narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of
\ndeath for drug trafficking.<\/p>\n
But they were unable to prove the defendant violated this
\narticle because no transaction had occurred.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Suprapto adjourned the trial until next week
\nto hear from defense lawyer Dadi Waluyo.<\/p>\n
The prosecutors cited the defendant's ignorance of Indonesia's
\nantidrug campaign and the threat he posed to the nation's young
\npeople as incriminating factors.<\/p>\n
The fact that the defendant had no criminal record was
\nmentioned as a mitigating factor.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors also asked that the defendant be fined Rp 1
\nmillion (US$101).<\/p>\n
Several drug suspects have been sentenced to death by the
\nTangerang District Court.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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