Former child star jailed for drugs

Former child star jailed for drugs

JAKARTA: Former child singer Joan Tanamal, now 30, was
sentenced Wednesday to one year in jail and Rp 3 million fine for
illegal possession of less than a gram of putauw (low-grade
heroin).

Joan, accompanied by her family, looked calm and thanked the
panel of judges of the South Jakarta District Court which gave
her a lighter sentence than the 17-month jail sentence sought by
chief prosecutor Sumino.

The defendant, who has been in detention since June 6, told
reporters that she was ready to be jailed.

The daughter of musician Enteng Tanamal and the late singer
Tanti Yosepha, was nabbed by the Tebet police a day after she
bought the heroin from dealer Dewi Andarini, who will be tried
separately.

Joan has pleaded guilty, saying that she had used drugs for
three months because of "personal problems."

Presiding judge Syamsul Ali said that the court gave harsh
sentences to drugs users and dealers because it had become the
state priority to combat drugs. --JP