Four months for smoking marijuana

Four months for smoking marijuana

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta District Court sentenced a
female gymnastics teacher yesterday to four months in jail for
smoking and possessing 0.2 grams of marijuana.

Presiding judge Asmar Ismail said the defendant, identified
as Wanda, 41, was arrested with her boyfriend in a taxi on Jl.
Eks Bandara Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, after leaving a
discotheque on Sept. 25.

Asmar said he hoped that the sentence would encourage the
defendant to improve her behavior and he told her not to consume
marijuana again.

"As a gymnastics teacher you should teach your students a
healthy way of life. How can your students believe you if you do
such a bad thing."

Wanda, a widow, could barely utter a word when she heard the
verdict but later thanked the judge for giving her a light
sentence.

Prosecutor DP. Siahaan had asked the court to sentence Wanda
to six months in jail.

Wanda was charged under Article 23 (3) of Law No. 9/1976 on
narcotics which carries a maximum penalty of six years in jail
and a fine of Rp 10 million (US$1,818).

Wanda told police that she had only smoked marijuana once and
got a headache after smoking it, the prosecutor said. (jun)