Alleged drug dealer arrested in a mall

JAKARTA (JP): A middle-aged man was arrested in Kalibata Mall in South Jakarta for allegedly selling low-grade heroin called sabu-sabu, police said yesterday.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the man, identified as Yacob Jericho, 51, was arrested Sunday afternoon.

"He was arrested while trying to find buyers for his drugs," he said.

"It is believed the suspect had been selling drugs in the mall and a few other places, especially to students," Aritonang said.

Yacob aka Wance, told police during questioning that he sold the drugs for about Rp 50,000 (US$10) per gram.

However, Yacob, who lived in the Sunter Karya housing estate in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, insisted that he was not the main dealer and was only a middleman who was often ordered to sell drugs, Aritonang said.

The officer said the drugs confiscated from the suspect were wrapped into packages.

He said Yacob's arrest followed a tip-off from an informant about a middle-aged man who often sold drugs to visitors at the mall.

Police were still interrogating the suspect to collect more information on his network, Aritonang said.

He said Yacob would likely be charged under articles 79 and 82 of 1997 Narcotics Law no. 22 which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and Rp 300 million in fines. (cst)