Disco owner faces jail for drugs

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)