Death sentence sought for smuggler

TANGERANG: Prosecutors demanded on Thursday that Tangerang District Court sentence Daniel Enemou -- a 28-year-old Nigerian citizen -- to death, and fine him Rp 50 million (US$5,435) for smuggling 1,150 grams of heroin into the country from Pakistan in January.

Prosecutor Eben Silalahi said the defendant was proven guilty of violating Articles 82 and 78 of Law No. 22/1997 on drugs, as he had carried the heroin through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Jan. 4. The articles carry a maximum sentence of death.

Enemou was arrested at the airport's terminal II by plain- clothes police officers.

The officers had found no evidence on Enemou's personage, but an X ray taken later at Honoris Hospital revealed foreign objects inside his stomach.

Enemou was forced to swallow laxatives to recover the evidence -- 65 capsules containing heroin, which appeared two days later.

Presiding judge Maha Nikmah adjourned the trial until next Wednesday to hear the defense plea. -- JP