Ecstasy dealer gets 10 months

JAKARTA (JP): Legal history was made yesterday when a city court sentenced a 56-year-old man to prison after finding him guilty of trafficking Ecstasy pills.

Presiding Judge Enny Sinaga of the West Jakarta District Court sentenced NWH, alias Awi, to 10 months imprisonment. The prosecutor had earlier demanded 18 months for the violation of Article 81 of the 1992 Health law.

"The sentence is based on the consideration that the defendant is currently infected by Hepatitis B, and that he also pleaded guilty in the trial," Judge Enny said in her verdict.

Prosecutor Esther Datu Rante said she is still considering whether or not to appeal the court's decision.

Article 81, pertaining to the distribution of unregistered drugs, carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment and a Rp 140 million fine.

The Ecstasy case, the first of its kind in Jakarta, follows an intensive government campaign against abuse of the drug earlier this year. The government has been forced to use the 1992 Health Law to prosecute people because Ecstasy is not yet classified as a narcotic and therefore not covered under the 1976 Narcotics Law.

Awi was arrested in December at the Zodiac discotheque in Glodok Plaza, West Jakarta, shortly after he allegedly sold several pills to KJH, alias Ahok, 30. The latter is being tried separately on the same charges.

Awi was arrested with 84 Ecstasy pills in his possession, while Ahok had 4 pills. Both of them declined legal representation.

In his trial, Awi told the court that he bought the pills from a man named Henky who is still at large.

The outcome of yesterday's trial is likely to set a precedent for other Ecstasy-related cases that are currently being heard across the country. (26)