Death could await Kenyan in court on drug charges
Death could await Kenyan in court on drug charges
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A Kenyan is facing the possibility of death row at the Medan
District Court for reportedly attempting to smuggle 870 grams of
heroin into the country from Malaysia last October.
Prosecutor Mardiana Sianturi told the court that the
defendant, who was identified only as JK, 32, violated Law No.
22/1997 on narcotics and should be given the death sentence.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant was caught with 73
capsules, each containing 15.028 grams of heroin, through Polonia
Airport, Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, on Oct. 23, 2002.
"The tax and excise officers became suspicious after he spent
more than 10 minutes in the airport bathroom. The defendant was
interrogated and confessed that was bringing in the banned drugs
from Malaysia. Fifty-nine capsules were found in his bag and
another 14 were removed from his stomach," he said.
JK, a garment trader, said during the trial that he was
unaware that the capsules contained heroin.
He said a Malaysian identified as Ahmad Dahlan promised to pay
him US$10,000 to deliver the capsules to somebody in the city.
"Honestly, I didn't know about the heroin. I only learned
about it when I was arrested at the airport," the defendant told
the panel of judges, through local interpreter Anil.
JK, who was accompanied by his lawyer Neril Afdi, apologized
to the panel of judges and promised not to repeat his offense if
he was acquitted of the charge.
"I was trapped by Ahmad Dahlan to bring in the banned drug. I
regret it very much. I will not repeat the offense. I beg the
judges to release me from any penalty," he said.
The hearing, which was presided over by FH Sinaga, was
adjourned until May 26, when the defense statement will be heard.
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A Kenyan is facing the possibility of death row at the Medan
District Court for reportedly attempting to smuggle 870 grams of
heroin into the country from Malaysia last October.
Prosecutor Mardiana Sianturi told the court that the
defendant, who was identified only as JK, 32, violated Law No.
22/1997 on narcotics and should be given the death sentence.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant was caught with 73
capsules, each containing 15.028 grams of heroin, through Polonia
Airport, Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, on Oct. 23, 2002.
"The tax and excise officers became suspicious after he spent
more than 10 minutes in the airport bathroom. The defendant was
interrogated and confessed that was bringing in the banned drugs
from Malaysia. Fifty-nine capsules were found in his bag and
another 14 were removed from his stomach," he said.
JK, a garment trader, said during the trial that he was
unaware that the capsules contained heroin.
He said a Malaysian identified as Ahmad Dahlan promised to pay
him US$10,000 to deliver the capsules to somebody in the city.
"Honestly, I didn't know about the heroin. I only learned
about it when I was arrested at the airport," the defendant told
the panel of judges, through local interpreter Anil.
JK, who was accompanied by his lawyer Neril Afdi, apologized
to the panel of judges and promised not to repeat his offense if
he was acquitted of the charge.
"I was trapped by Ahmad Dahlan to bring in the banned drug. I
regret it very much. I will not repeat the offense. I beg the
judges to release me from any penalty," he said.
The hearing, which was presided over by FH Sinaga, was
adjourned until May 26, when the defense statement will be heard.