Drug trial starts for two Nigerians

Drug trial starts for two Nigerians

TANGERANG: A local district court began on Thursday the trial of
two Nigerian men charged with possessing six kilograms of heroin
in Tangerang, Banten province, for which they face a possible
death penalty.

Prosecutors Puji Raharjo and R. Vidiato said the defendants,
Michael Titus Igweh, 23, and Hillary K. Chimezia, 24, were found
to be organizing drug trafficking.

The case involved an Indonesian woman, Marlena, and a
Zimbabwean, Kholisani Nkomo alias Ichku Eberu Okolwaja.

Igweh and Chimezia were arrested in August last year following
a tipoff from residents who had frequently seen drug transactions
taking place at Marlena's house in the Vila Melati Mas housing
complex in Serpong, Tangerang.

However, Marlena had died of a lung ailment while Okolwaja had
died due to an AIDS-related illness at the Kramat Djati Police
Hospital, East Jakarta, amid the investigation into the case.

Both Igweh and Chimezia were charged with violating Article 82
of Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics, which carries a maximum penalty
of death.

Presiding judge Permadi adjourned the trial until next
Thursday to hear the defense plea from the defendants' lawyers.
--JP