Dutch suspect says he was framed in Ecstasy case

JAKARTA (JP): A Dutch businessman standing trial on charges of trafficking nearly 1,000 Ecstasy pills, yesterday told the Central Jakarta District Court he was framed.

In his closing statement, the 56-year-old Dutchman said police officers who apprehended him at a four-star hotel last April, allowed the alleged ecstasy buyer to walk away free.

"I was framed up by a group involving at least 13 people," said the Dutchman who is a consultant for a local cement company. He accused the arresting officers of being involved.

He said he was not aware Ecstasy was banned in Indonesia.

"I always thought Ecstasy was free in Indonesia because there is no law banning it and besides, many people, including police officers, have told me so.

"Had I known Ecstasy was banned, obviously I would never have wanted to keep them in the first place."

Prosecutor Petrus Sambara has demanded a three-year jail term and a Rp 2.5 million ($1,050) fine for the defendant.

The Dutchman was arrested in a hotel lobby on April 3, allegedly just as he was about to sell ecstasy. The arresting officers said they found several thousands more Ecstasy pills in his car and office.

The prosecutor, however, is only pressing charges for trafficking the 998 pills involved in the aborted transaction.

Article 81 (2) of the 1992 Health Law, upon which the case is built, bans the distribution, but not the possession, of drugs not registered with the Ministry of Health.

The defendant, from Gouda in the Netherlands, insisted the 6,000 pills found in his possession belonged to a Dutch acquaintance he identified only as "Mr. Anthony."

Later, he received a call from a woman identified as Siska who asked him to bring the pills to a hotel on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, and to meet a man named Ho.

The defendant said he went to the hotel and met Ho, and 10 other people, who turned out to be police officers. He was then arrested.

The Dutchman refuted the court testimony of two arresting officers who said they did not have the chance to arrest Ho because they were busy apprehending him. (16)