Drug trafficker

Drug trafficker gets 19 years

The North Jakarta District Court sentenced Nio Ka Heng, alias A. Heng alias Gumala Halim, 49, to 19 years imprisonment and fined him Rp 500 million (US$54,945) for being in possession of two kilograms of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) and 2,000 ecstasy pills. The verdict was slightly less that the prosecutor's recommendation of a 20-year sentence. Should he fail to pay the fine, he will have to spend another six months in jail. The defendant requested time to consider whether he would appeal. A. Heng was arrested on March 3 at around 6 a.m. at his home in the Villa Bandara housing complex, Tangerang regency. He claimed that the drugs belonged to his friend, Veronica Fanny, who is currently also on trial in the same case. -- Antara