22 Indonesians may face death penalty in Greece

JAKARTA (JP): Twenty-two Indonesians may face the death penalty in Greece for allegedly smuggling dozens of kilograms of heroin into the country.

Manpower minister Bomer Pasaribu was quoted as saying that the ministry sent a legal team to Greece to defend the 22 suspects.

Bomer said he also asked noted lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis to help represent the defendants.

Bomer was speaking after reporting the case to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri here on Friday.

Antara reported that the heroin was found welded into a ship manned by the suspects. The ship was docked at a Greek harbor.

Bomer speculated that it may have been the work of an international syndicate, saying the Indonesian crew members were incapable of such welding work.

It was not clear, however, when the 22 suspects were arrested.

Last month, 15 Indonesian crew members were also arrested for alleged ship piracy in India and were to be tried there under international law.

The crew members were arrested for allegedly commandeering a merchant ship, the M.V. Alondra Rainbow, on its way to Japan.

The Japanese-owned ship was carrying aluminum ingots and went missing after it left Indonesia on Oct. 22. Its 15 Filipino and two Japanese crew members were abandoned in Thailand after the 15 Indonesians allegedly took control of the ship. (byg)