Men sentenced for drug abuse

TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang District Court sentenced on Saturday two men, 35-year-old Zainal Abidin and his elder brother, a civil servant named Nasarudin, 40, to 15 months and 18 months in jail for using and selling Shabu-Shabu (crystal methamphetamine).

A Rp 100,000 fine was also imposed on each defendant.

Judge Satria U.S. Gumai's sentence was heavier than the charge brought up by the prosecutor, which was only a year to each man.

The two men were arrested by the police on Nov. 24 last year, as locals reported their activities which had been going on for quite some time around Jl. Sudimara Timur in Ciledug district.

Police busted the two with four packages of Shabu-Shabu, weighed a total of 1.75 grams and two injection needles.

"There are no mitigating circumstances in this case as Nasarudin is a civil servant who does not act as a good role model for society," the judge said.

Narcotics Law No. 22/1997 carries the death penalty, or a maximum of life imprisonment, and a fine of Rp 1 billion for any organized drug-related felony, while it imposes a maximum of 15 years imprisonment and Rp 150 million in fines for an individual charged in a drug case. (41/edt)