Liberian jailed for 15 years for heroin deal
JAKARTA (JP): A court sentenced on Wednesday a Liberian to 15 years in jail for involvement in a heroin transaction.
Presiding judge I Gde Sumitra also ordered the defendant, Christian Chinnedu Ejionye, to pay a Rp 5 million (US$714) fine.
"The defendant is guilty of dealing in drugs, which violates Article 82 of the 1997 law on narcotics," the judge said in a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court.
The sentence and fine were heavier than those demanded by prosecutor Fachruddin.
The prosecutor had demanded that the court sentence Ejionye to 11 years in jail and fine him Rp 3 million.
Judge Sumitra said police detectives arrested the 49-year-old Liberian when he attempted to purchase 100 grams of heroin from a man, identified as Joey, at Hotel Hannover in Central Jakarta on April 26. Joey is still at large.
"The defendant violated the law by failing to show the police an official license to keep and trade heroin," he said.
The judge said police detectives searched the defendant's rented home in Cilandak Timur, South Jakarta, three days after his arrest and found 250 grams of heroin in three plastic packages hidden in milk cartons.
Sumitra explained that he was compelled to hand down a heavier sentence despite Ejionye's confession and his apparent regret for his wrongdoings.
"His move could harm the health of other people. It could also endanger the future of our youths," he said.
The defendant, who was accompanied by his translator Herman, remained silent, though his eyes glistened with tears, when the judge announced the verdict.
Appeal
He was unable to talk for a few minutes when the judge asked him whether he would file an appeal with the Jakarta High Court.
"You can file an appeal soon to the high court, if you consider the verdict too heavy," said an impatient Sumitra.
The defendant stood up and walked out of the courtroom escorted by his translator. His eyes appeared vacant and he remained silent.
Ejionye's lawyer, Robert Manurung, said he was not satisfied with the verdict.
"My client should be sentenced for possession instead of for dealing in drugs.
"The court failed to prove that he was dealing in drugs, as no witnesses or evidence were provided in the hearings to prove that he was dealing in drugs when captured," said Robert after the hearing.
The only evidence was the 350 grams of heroin in his possession, he added.
The stiff sentence comes following mounting public demand that the courts sentence drug offenders with maximum sentences.
People stepped up pressure on the courts, police and government officials recently amid the rampant trading and taking of drugs within society.
The head of the Central Jakarta District Court, Sihol Sitompul, promised activists of the People's Antidrug Movement (Geram) in a recent meeting that he would urge judges under his supervision to impose heavy sentences on drug offenders.
President Abdurrahman Wahid has also voiced his commitment to the war on drugs.
The President vowed on Monday that the government would prepare an antidrug bill, which would impose stricter sentences, the minimum of which would be 12 to 20 years in jail. (asa)