Foreign national on trial for drugs

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The drug trial of Ramakau Jones, alias Npoto, a national of Lesotho in West Africa, began on Tuesday at the Tangerang District Court.

The 32-year-old defendant was arrested on March 4 in Ciputat, Tangerang regency, in the possession of 50 grams of heroin.

"Fortunately, officers arrested him before a drug transaction he had planned with a buyer was able to take place," prosecutor Mulyadi said in his indictment.

He said police received a tip that a drug deal was planned for about 10 p.m. in front of a supermarket on Jl. Juanda in Ciputat.

Two detectives observed the defendant in front of the supermarket a few minutes after 10. The officers approached the defendant and searched him, finding a plastic bag containing a white powder. Lab results received on March 31 confirmed the powder was pure heroin.

Mulyadi charged the defendant under Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of death for drug trafficking.

Presiding judge Suprapto adjourned the trial until next week, at which time the court will hear from the defendant's lawyer, Dadi Waluyo.