City police chief hails court's ruling

TANGERANG (JP): Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi hailed on Thursday a district court ruling handing down death sentences to three cocaine smugglers.

"The judges' decision will make (drug syndicates) afraid to commit more crimes," Nurfaizi said, adding that the case had smeared the country as being a transit place for international drug distribution.

Nurfaizi was speaking to reporters after a ceremony marking the replacement of Tangerang Police chief Supt. Pudji Hartanto with Supt. Syafei Aksal at police headquarters.

The court sentenced on Tuesday Deni Setya Maharwan, 28, Ranni Andriani, 25, and Merika Franola alias Ola, 30, to death. They were arrested by city police detectives on Jan. 12 at Soekarno- Hatta International Airport about to fly to London.

Nurfaizi told judges and prosecutors who handle drug cases not to be afraid to make decisions according to the law because the police would always be ready to provide them with protection.

"It would be good if after handing out heavy sentences to drug dealers to ask (us) for protection," Nurfaizi said.(41/jaw)