Prosecutor wants 18 months for Ecstasy trafficker<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A state prosecutor urged a court yesterday to
\nsentence a 56-year-old West Jakarta resident to 18 months
\nimprisonment for trafficking Ecstasy pills.<\/p>\n
This is the first sentencing demand made in a Jakarta court
\nagainst anyone for possession of or dealing in Ecstasy, following
\nthe intensification of the authorities' campaign against those
\ndistributing the pills that have become popular among the city's
\nyounger generation.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Esther Datu Rante told the West Jakarta District
\nCourt that the trial has proven convincingly that the defendant,
\nNWH, alias Awi, violated Article 81 of the 1992 Health Law.<\/p>\n
Given that Ecstasy is not classified as a narcotic and
\ntherefore not covered under the 1976 Narcotics Law, the
\ngovernment has been forced to resort to using the weaker 1992
\nHealth Law.<\/p>\n
Article 81 of the Health Law, pertaining to the distribution
\nof unregistered drugs, carries a maximum penalty of seven years
\nimprisonment and a Rp 140 million fine.<\/p>\n
Awi was arrested by the police in December at the Zodiac
\nDiscotheque in Glodok Plaza, West Jakarta, shortly after he
\nallegedly sold several pills to KJH, alias Ahok, who is being
\ntried separately.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Esther said Ahok testified in Awi's trial that he
\nbought the pills for Rp 50,000 (US$22) each.<\/p>\n
Awi declined legal representation and pleaded guilty to the
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
He also told the court that he bought the pills from a man
\nnamed Henky, who is still at large.<\/p>\n
Esther referred to the laboratory results from the Directorate
\nGeneral for Drug and Food Control, which categorize Ecstasy as a
\ndrug whose distribution must be authorized by the Ministry of
\nHealth.<\/p>\n
Presiding Judge Enny Sinaga is scheduled to read the verdict
\non Sept. 19.<\/p>\n
The outcome of the trial is likely to set a precedent for
\nother Ecstasy cases that are currently being heard in many courts
\nin Jakarta and in other big cities.<\/p>\n
Another Ecstasy trial continued at the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court yesterday in which a Dutch business consultant,
\nLHK, is being accused of producing and trafficking more than
\n5,000 Ecstasy pills.<\/p>\n
The trial heard the testimony of Alex Agustine, an expert from
\nthe drug and food control office of the Ministry of Health, who
\nsaid that the use of components commonly found in Ecstasy are
\ncontrolled by the Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n
LHK's lawyers, Nazori Do'ak Achmad and Erick S. Paat, objected
\nto Alex's testimony, saying that as a pharmacist, he was not in a
\nposition to give legal opinions regarding Ecstasy.<\/p>\n
Presiding Judge Nurhayati overruled the objection.<\/p>\n
\"Laboratory tests have shown that these Ecstasy pills contain
\nseveral substances, and these substances should not be questioned
\none by one if they are legal or not, because the pills could also
\ncontain vitamins,\" Nurhayati said.<\/p>\n
LHK has denied the charges and said that the thousands of
\nEcstasy pills found in his car and office belonged to a friend.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until Sep. 23. (26)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutor-wants-18-months-for-ecstasy-trafficker-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }