Death sentence sought for woman

TANGERANG: A prosecutor demanded on Thursday that Tangerang District Court sentence a woman to life imprisonment and fine her Rp 100 million for allegedly attempting to smuggle one kilogram of heroin into the country from Thailand.

Prosecutor Siti Zahara said that defendant Edith Yunita Sianturi, 24, was working as a sales promotion girl for Poppy Dharsono cosmetics at Pasar Raya in Manggarai, South Jakarta, when she met a Nigerian called Abu William.

The two were soon involved in a close relationship. Edith left her boarding house to live with her Nigerian lover, who later asked her to take a sum of money for his friend in Thailand in May.

After spending one week in Thailand, Edith flew back to Jakarta on June 4.

Customs and excise officers became suspicious when they noticed that the defendant's purse was unusually thick. They pierced the purse and white powder, suspected to be heroin, was found inside. --JP