15 years sought for drug dealer

JAKARTA: Prosecutors urged a 15-year jail term for Michael James Wangko alias Juki, 33, who is currently standing trial for possessing two kilograms of ecstasy pills.

Prosecutor Titin Resthiana told the West Jakarta District Court on Wednesday that the defendant was a drug pusher and that he had been proven guilty of the illegal possession of drugs at the time of his arrest on July 2, 2003.

She also urged the court to fine the defendant Rp 150 million (US$17,647), or an additional four months in prison should he fail to pay.

Wangko, who did not have legal representation, was arrested in a room at the Taman Anggrek Apartments in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta, by Jakarta Police detectives.

In his statement, Wangko claimed he had just received the drugs from a man called Teddy upon the instruction of Lukman Siswanto alias Kok Eng, whom Wangko claimed was the owner of the pills.

"I was only told to receive the drugs and deliver them to another person. They promised me Rp 6 million for this," he told reporters.

Teddy is still at large, while Kok Eng is now serving a jail term at the Tangerang Penitentiary for drug possession.

Presiding Judge Muchtar Ritonga adjourned the trial for a week to hear defense pleas. -- Antara