Alleged drug dealer may faces jail term

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday to sentence a 39-year-old man to seven years in prison and fine him Rp 3 million for allegedly trying to sell six kilograms of dried marijuana.

Prosecutor Agus Sutoto said the defendant, Rozali, and an accomplice, Fahri Hidayat, were arrested on Feb. 10 in the parking lot of Jakarta Hotel on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Central Jakarta, while trying to sell the marijuana to a prospective client.

"Police found the marijuana in Fahri's Kijang van," Agus said. Fahri is being tried in a separate proceeding.

According to the prosecutor, Rozali met the prospective buyer, identified as Engkoh Edi, at the hotel at 3 p.m.

The defendant then allegedly sent a message to Fahri through a beeper, telling him that a transaction would take place.

Edi, who is still at large, then asked Rozali to wait in the parking lot while he got his money ready for the exchange, Agus said.

Two hours later, Fahri arrived at the hotel and met the defendant in the parking lot, which police officers had surrounded.

During police questioning, Fahri admitted to having planned to sell all six kilograms of the drug, which he bought from a dealer in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, for Rp 7.2 million, Agus said.

The prosecutor argued that the defendant was guilty of violating Article 82 (1) of Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics, which carries a maximum penalty of death and a fine of up to Rp 1 billion.

Rozali, who had no legal representation, appeared shocked with the prosecution's allegations.

He told the court earlier that he had nothing to do with either the marijuana or the transaction. He said Edi had only asked him to find Fahri for the drug transaction.

Edi, he said, promised to give him Rp 250,000 after the deal.

Presiding judge Purwanto adjourned the trial until next week to hear the defendant's plea. (jun)