Couple jailed for drug trafficking

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court has sentenced a woman and her boy friend to one and two years in jail, respectively, for trafficking 30 grams of heroin.

The court said the defendants, Sella Rosella, 23, and her fiancee Acuan, alias Sulaeman, 26, were found guilty for violating Article 82 (1) of Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics. The article carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

"Sella is still young. The defendant has regretted her crime," Presiding Judge M. Simatupang said.

According to the indictment, Sella and Acuan were arrested, while they were being treated at Husada Hospital on April 17, after being stabbed by a man, identified as David, at the Mercure Hotel on Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta, Central Jakarta.

Police officers, who visited the couple at the hospital, found heroin in Sella's bag.

During interrogation, the couple confessed to having tried to sell the heroin to David and his friend named Steven. The transaction, however, was canceled, thereby leading to a severe argument in which Acuan and Sella were stabbed by David. Both David and Steven are still at large.

Sella, who was five-months pregnant, said she began using the drug after living together with Acuan a year ago. (jun)