Man tried for drug trafficking

JAKARTA (JP): A 26-year-old man was indicted at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday for allegedly intending to traffic 30 grams of heroin.

Prosecutor Fachrur Rozy said the defendant, Acuan alias Sulaeman, along with his fiancee, identified as Sella Rosella, was arrested while under medical treatment at Husada Hospital on April 17, this year.

"Police officers found the heroin in Sella's bag," Fachrur said.

Sella will be tried in a separate trial.

Fachrur said that during interrogation the couple confessed to trying to sell the heroin to two men, identified as David, alias Bule, and Steven at Mercure Hotel on Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta, Central Jakarta.

The transaction was canceled and the parties ended up in a severe argument in which Acuan and Sella were reportedly stabbed by David.

David and Steven apparently managed to escape. The couple was then rushed to the hospital by the hotel's employees.

Local police, who were alerted later, arrived at the hospital and found the heroin in Sella's bag, prosecutor Rozy said.

The defendant was charged under Article 82 (1) of Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

Sella took the witness stand on Monday and told the court that she used to consume heroin. She said she began using the drug after she started living with the defendant a year ago.

"I regret it your honor," she said, bursting into tears, adding that she was four months pregnant.

The judge adjourned the trial until next week to hear more witnesses' testimonies. (jun)