Heroin trafficker gets 16 months in jail

Heroin trafficker gets 16 months in jail

JAKARTA (JP): A judge at the Central Jakarta District Court
sentenced on Wednesday defendant Doni Novian to one year and four
months in jail for trafficking 0.5112 grams of grade one heroin.

Judge Endang Soemarsih said the defendant was found guilty of
violating article 82 of the 1997 Narcotics Law. The article
carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

"However, the defendant is still young and has regretted all
his wrongdoings," said the judge.

The sentence was four months less than the one sought by
prosecutor Ferdie Jani.

Judge Endang said the defendant was arrested by police last
June at his home in Duri Pulo subdistrict, Central Jakarta.

"The police found two packages of heroin packed in two candy
plastic wrappers in the defendant's left pant pocket," Endang
said.

The court's tougher sentencing on the drug defendants would
appear to be linked to sustained public pressure. (asa)