Nigerian given life sentence

BOGOR: Nigerian Jhon Sebastian was sentenced to life imprisonment by presiding judge Eka Budi Prijanta after being found guilty of distributing and selling 300 grams of heroin at Cibinong district court, Bogor, on Monday.

The verdict was lighter than prosecutor Bambang Siharijadi's request for the sentence of death.

The defendant's partner Nova Herawati was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. The verdict was also lighter than the prosecutor's request for the sentence of life.

Both defendants were charged under Law No. 22/1997 on drugs. They were given a seven-day period to appeal.

Sebastian and Nova were arrested by the police on Oct. 31, 2002, at Ibis Hotel in Central Jakarta and the University of Indonesia campus in Depok respectively.

Nova was arrested selling 300 grams of heroin at the campus. She then informed the police of Sebastian's role as her partner. -- JP