Grandson of expert charged over drugs

JAKARTA (JP): The 20-year-old grandson of a prominent criminal law expert was indicted at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday for possessing 0.018 grams of heroin.

Shortly after the opening of the trial of Alexander, the grandson of legal expert Loebby Loqman, a prosecutor from the district court approached journalists and in a friendly manner asked the reporters not to cover the trial.

"We don't want to drag Loebby Loqman's name into this affair," the prosecutor said, requesting anonymity.

The prosecutor said Loebby had done much to improve Indonesia's justice system and did not deserve to have his name attached to this matter.

"This is only a small crime... but it could affect Loebby's name," the prosecutor said.

According to prosecutor B. Sianturi, who read the indictment during Wednesday's trial, Alexander was arrested in June with a small bag containing 0.018 grams of heroin in his possession.

He was detained from June 18 to July 1 at Central Jakarta Police headquarters.

Loebby, a law professor at the University of Indonesia, is often invited to speak at seminars and quoted by the media on various issues, including drugs, press freedom and human rights.

Sianturi refused to comment to the media on the case and, unlike in many other drug cases, did not give copies of the charges against the defendant to journalists.

"It's not that I don't want to cooperate, but as of now I am not allowed to give any statements to the press," he told reporters.

In the indictment, Alexander was charged with violating Article 78b of Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a fine of Rp 500 million (US$66,000).

The hearing was attended by several people, including three relatives of the defendant.

Alexander's family refused to talk to the press and remained silent during the trial.

Alexander has declined the representation of a lawyer in the trial.

Asked by the presiding judge whether he was certain about his decision, the defendant looked unsure and turned to his mother sitting in the back of the courtroom.

The woman nodded her head, and Alexander told the judge he would represent himself in the trial. (03)