Nigerian man may face 10 years in jail for trafficking heroin

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor yesterday asked the Central Jakarta District Court to sentence a Nigerian man to 10 years in jail and fine him Rp 1 million for selling 80 grams of heroin.

Before presiding Judge Madnyono opened the trial, the defendant Isfaya Ede, alias Ciko, told the court through his interpreter that he had severed contracts with his three lawyers because they had been dishonest.

However, one of the lawyers, Soegianto, told the court that he and his colleagues had "decided to resign from representing the defendant by ourselves", because of their client's tendency to make illogical statements.

Ciko then went on trial without any legal representation.

Prosecutor Usman said Ciko, 22, was arrested at the Sogo Department Store on Jl. MH. Thamrin, Central Jakarta on May 8 last year, after a police operation involving one of Ciko's associates.

Usman said Ciko gave his friend, Koreri Suwage, 80 grams of heroin to sell after meeting him in a dormitory on Jl. KH. Mas Mansur on May 6.

Police arrested Suwage the following day at the dormitory and the heroin belonging to Ciko was confiscated.

Usman said Suwage, at police request, sent a message via Ciko's radiopager stating that the heroin had been sold for Rp 200,000 per gram and asking the defendant to meet him in the Sogo department store.

Police then staked out the rendezvous. When Ciko realized he had been set up, he attempted to flee and was shot in his left leg.

Usman said the defendant was charged under Article 23 (5) of Law No. 9/1976 on narcotics.

Madnyono adjourned the trial until Friday to hear the defendant's response to the sentence request. (jun)