Africans jailed for trafficking heroin

Africans jailed for trafficking heroin

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced
three foreigners to between six and 14 years in prison for
trafficking and possessing a total of 6.6 kilograms of heroin in
different sessions on Friday.

The three defendants were Colling Nyi Bongo from Malawi, 33,
and Nigerians Emeka Simon Eloka, 34, and Christian Chukwu, 31.

Colling, a former Malawian policeman, was sentenced to 14
years in jail and was fined Rp 5 million for trafficking 3.7
kilograms of heroin.

Presiding judge Sujatno said the defendant had been found
guilty of violating Article 82 of Law 22/1997 on narcotics, which
carries a maximum sentence of death.

"The defendant has damaged the Indonesian government's program
to crack down on narcotics. His actions could have ruined the
lives of youngsters here," he said.

He said the defendant was arrested at Hotel Menteng on Jl.
Cikini on Nov. 6 last year, a day after his arrival from Bangkok.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the man in his hotel room
and confiscated 3.7 kilograms of heroin.

Colling provided information during his interrogation which
led police to Emeka and Christian, who were staying in a rented
room on Jl. Kebon Kacang in Central Jakarta.

Emeka and Christian were caught a day after Colling's arrest.
Police confiscated 2.9 kilograms of heroin from the two
Nigerians.

Both prosecutor Zaenal Abidin and Colling are both still
considering whether to appeal against the judge's decision.

Zaenal had asked the court to sentence Colling to death for
the crime.

In a different session, the same court sentenced Emeka and
Christian to nine years and six years in jail respectively. Emeka
was also fined Rp 10 million for possessing 2.9 kilograms of
heroin.

"Even though the defendant denies possessing the heroin, the
panel of judges believes, based on the testimony of witnesses,
that Emeka was the owner of the drugs," presiding judge Zulkifli
Lubis said.

Emeka told the court that the heroin belonged to his friend,
Pieter, who is still at large.

Christian was given a custodial sentence for being complicit
in the storage of the drugs.

Prosecutor Timbul Pasaribu had earlier asked the court to
sentence Emeka to 10 years in prison and Christian to eight
years. (jun)