Drug suspect freed after alleged bribe

JAKARTA: A university student was on trial on Wednesday at the South Jakarta District Court on charges of illegal possession and use of heroin.

Prosecutor Nursanto accused defendant Oryza Sativa, 23, of violating paragraph 1 article 78 of the Antidrug Law No. 22/1997, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

On April 8, she was arrested in Pondok Indah when police found her carrying 5.5 grams of heroin. She was then jailed at Pondok Bambu jail in East Jakarta, but later released in suspicious circumstances.

The case drew public attention following media reports that Oryza was able to return home after her parents allegedly paid Rp 400 million to the prosecutor who was handling her case.

The prosecutor, Ary Priyo Agung, has since been replaced by prosecutor Nurlis Sembiring. However, Ary has maintained his innocence.

During Wednesday's hearing, Oryza's father, Yanto Suryadi, asked the panel of judges, led by Torang H. Tampubolon to delay the detention of his daughter on grounds that she is currently under medical care to overcome her drug addiction.

The trial will resume next week. --JP