Ecstasy dealer gets 10 months

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)