Dutch nationals to be tried for drug trafficking

JAKARTA (JP): The police said two Dutch men being held on suspicion of drug smuggling will be tried this month while revealing that city prosecutors fear their safety will be compromised if they handle the case.

"We sent the dossiers of the suspects along with 4,700 Eva pills seized during the raids as material evidence to the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office on April 5," head of the City Police dangerous drugs unit, Maj. Noenang Kohar, told reporters yesterday.

Eva is the local name for ecstasy.

"The prosecutor's office has asked us to protect its personnel from any possible attack as the suspects are members of a drug syndicate. We're ready at any time to cover them," he said.

So far, the prosecutor's office has yet to name the prosecutors who will handle the case in the court.

Christian Maria van de Bosch and Leonard Yacobus, who are both in their 20s, could be charged with two violations, selling a drug that has not been approved for sale and distributing drugs without a license. The first carries a maximum prison term of 15 years and a maximum fine of Rp 300 million (over US$140,000).

The second offense carries a maximum prison term of seven years and a maximum fine of Rp 140 million ($66,000).

The two are being detained at the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office.

Arrest

Maria van de Bosch and Leonard, who is of Ambonese (Maluku) descent, were arrested by the police narcotics unit at the Borobodur hotel in Central Jakarta on Feb. 6 along with two U.S. military personnel from the American embassy and a local woman.

After an intense investigation, the police confiscated over 7,500 Eva tablets and powder, mostly consisting of amphetamines.

"After being used during the investigation and for laboratory observation, we've sent about 4,700 tablets to the prosecutor's office," Noenang said.

He said that the drugs were brought by Maria van de Bosch from the Netherlands and sold to guests at several nightspots, such as the Batavia cafe and the Hard Rock cafe, from Rp 30,000 ($14) to Rp 130,000 ($60) per tablet.

"The group had carried out their operation four times since November last year before being arrested in February," Noenang said.

The two U.S. embassy security personnel were identified as Steven Joseph Bryner and Peter Michael Karajin III. Both are 25 years old. The two had diplomatic immunity and were delivered into U.S. custody four days after the arrest for military trial in Guam.

Kompas daily reported yesterday that the trial of the two U.S. Air Force members will also be held this month. Under American law, the two face maximum imprisonment of 15 years each.

According to Noenang, the local woman, a girlfriend of Maria van de Bosch, is expected to testify against the two Dutch men.

"By law, the two Americans might also be present as suspects during the trial of the two Dutch here although they were questioned before leaving Indonesia," Noenang said.

According to him, the two will be accompanied by the lawyer Azis Unulula, who is Ambonese. (bsr)