Three Africans on trial for drugs<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
After having sentenced to death a Dutch national who operated
\ntwo ecstasy factories here, the Tangerang District Court tried on
\nWednesday three Africans charged with drug trafficking and
\nillegal possession of 5.6 kilograms of heroin.<\/p>\n
The court tried Kholisani Nkomo, 33, a Zimbabwean, Nigerian
\nMichael Titus Igweh, 24, and another Nigerian man, Hillary K.
\nChimezia, 27, separately.<\/p>\n
They were arrested in August at their homes in Vila Melati Mas
\nRegency, Bumi Serpong Damai housing estate and Kelapa Gading
\nTower apartment complex respectively.<\/p>\n
Before the trial, the panel of judges presided over by Judge
\nPermadi were confused, since Nkomo denied his identity and told
\nthe court that his name was Ichuku Eberu Okolwaja instead, and
\nthat his nationality was Nigerian. As the defendant had no
\nidentity card to prove that he was not Nkomo, the presiding judge
\ndecided to proceed with the trial.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor R. Vidianto charged the defendants with violating
\nArticle 82 of Law No. 22\/1997 on narcotics, which carries a
\nmaximum penalty of death, and Article 55 of the Criminal Code on
\norganized crime.<\/p>\n
The 5.6 kilograms of heroin was found in the homes of Nkomo
\nand Igweh. They claimed that they had obtained the drug from
\nHillary.<\/p>\n
The three Africans were arrested after the police nabbed
\nNkomo's girlfriend Marlena, 24, an Indonesian national, on Aug.
\n17 following a raid on her house, when the police found 50 grams
\nof heroin in her bag.<\/p>\n
Marlena, however, died on Dec. 17 at Kramat Jati Police
\nHospital, East Jakarta. The police said she suffered from lung
\ndisease.<\/p>\n
The Tangerang District Court has so far sentenced 20 drug
\n`dealers to death, and one to life in prison since January 2000.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-africans-on-trial-for-drugs-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}