11-year sentence sought for alleged drug dealer

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday to sentence a Liberian national to 11 years in prison and fine him Rp 3 million (US$441) for trafficking heroin.

"Defendant Christian Chinedu Ejionye violated Article 82 of the 1997 Law on Narcotics," prosecutor Fachruddin said during the session presided over by judge I Gde Sumitra.

The article carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Fachruddin said police detectives arrested the defendant as he purchased 100 grams of heroin from a man identified as Joey at Hotel Hannover in Central Jakarta on April 26. Joey is still at large.

The prosecutor said police searched the defendant's rental home in Cilandak Timur, South Jakarta, three days after the arrest and discovered 250 grams of heroin in three plastic packages hidden in milk cartons.

Fachruddin said the defendant was in violation of the government's campaign to eradicate drug trafficking in the country.

"The defendant's actions threatened the future of the country's youth," Fachruddin said.

After the prosecutor completed his indictment, judge Sumitra asked Chinedu whether he would defend himself or be represented by his lawyer Robert Manurung.

Chinedu gave the judge a statement of defense written in English.

Sumitra said a translation of the statement would be required.

"The translation should be distributed to the judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers before the next session," he said.

The judge adjourned the trial until Dec. 1, at which time the court will hear the defendant's statement. (asa)