Disco owner faces jail for drugs

JAKARTA (JP): State prosecutors demanded yesterday that a court sentence the owner of the Hailai discotheque in North Jakarta to six months imprisonment and a Rp 5 million (US$2,135) fine for possession of narcotics and illegal drugs.

"This trial has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant possessed two marijuana cigarettes and seven-and-a-half Ecstasy pills," chief prosecutor Andhi Nirwanto told the North Jakarta District Court.

The defendant, HS, has denied the charges, insisting that he did not know the origin of the marijuana and Ecstasy pills which were found in his limousine during a police raid in July.

Andhi told the court, presided over by Judge Soetatmo Hadibroto, that three witnesses had corroborated the charge and the defendant had also admitted the offense during police interrogation.

During an earlier hearing, HS retracted the incriminating statement he gave to the police. He said he gave that statement because he wanted to get the investigation over and done with.

Andhi argued that the judge should ignore the retraction.

He cited Article 189(2) of the Criminal Code Procedures which says that anything a defendant said outside the court could be used against the defendant, provided that it is supported with relevant evidence.

The trial was adjourned to next Wednesday when HS's lawyer, Amir Syamsuddin, will read his defense statement. (26)