Drug dealer jailed for life

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The Tangerang District Court sentenced on Wednesday a man to life imprisonment for possessing 60 kilograms of marijuana in Kademangan village, Mauk district, Tangerang.

Presiding judge Warsito said the defendant, Muksin alias Abu bin Acin, 30, a resident of Kademangan village, was proven guilty of possessing the euphoria-producing cannabis leaves and therefore deserved harsh punishment.

Warsito claimed the defendant's action could ruin the country's future generation as a supporting factor for the verdict.

The mitigating factors for the verdict -- death sentences are common in big drug cases -- included the defendant's honesty during the sessions and his remorse for what he had done.

The sentence was equal to what prosecutor DJ. S. Simamora had demanded last week. The defendant, who had waived his right to a defense lawyer, stated that he would appeal to a higher court.

Earlier, prosecutor Simamora charged the defendant with violating Article 82 of law No. 22/1997 on drugs. The Article carries a maximum punishment of death.

The defendant was nabbed at his house in Kademangan village by the police on Nov. 9, 2001 following a tip from his neighbors, who said that the defendant had frequently made drug transactions at his house.

After raiding the house and arresting him, the police found 59 packets of marijuana hidden in 13 computer CPU boxes.

The defendant testified that he received the marijuana from a man named Wahyu, who is still at large. He said Wahyu ordered him to take the marijuana from a house and wrap it into small packets and then sell them at Rp 20,000 each.