Nigerian on drug charges may face death penalty

JAKARTA (JP): A 28-year-old Nigerian man may face the death penalty for selling 2.48 kilograms of heroin worth Rp 50 million (US$4,545).

Prosecutor Agus Widodo asked Central Jakarta District Court yesterday to impose the penalty on Edhosa Aghahowa, alias Temmy, if he is found guilty of violating Article 23 (5) of Law 6/1976 on narcotics.

"The defendant does not regret his behavior and even gave conflicting statements (during interrogation sessions)."

The prosecutor said Temmy's action had also disrupted the government's efforts to stamp out drug trafficking.

He said the Nigerian and his local girlfriend, Yuningsih, 22, were caught red-handed on Aug. 14 in the Pecenongan area, Central Jakarta. They allegedly offered and sold heroin to a police informant under the watchful eyes of plainclothes officers.

Agus said the informant, Yusak, received a call from Temmy, who offered him heroin. But Yusak reported the offer to West Jakarta Police precinct.

In response, the police supplied Yusak with Rp 500,000 plus financial papers to show the informant had adequate money to purchase a bulk quantity of heroin, Agus said.

Yusak then telephoned the Nigerian and agreed to meet him at a hotel in Pecenongan, the prosecutor said.

Once inside a hotel room, Yusak told the Nigerian -- who was accompanied by Yuningsih -- that he agreed to buy 2.5 kilograms of heroin for Rp 50 million, he said.

Agus said that after negotiations were completed, the three went by taxi to the nearby Sintera Hotel in the Pasar Baru shopping area to pick up the drugs.

Yusak and Yuningsih waited in the taxi while Temmy went into the hotel, the court was told. Temmy allegedly said he needed to take the heroin from another Nigerian's hotel room.

The prosecutor said that when Temmy returned to the taxi a few minutes later the three went back to Pecenongan. As they approached the Pecenongan gas station, Temmy showed Yusak that he had six canisters of heroin.

In return, Yusak gave Temmy a plastic bag "full of money", the prosecutor said.

It was then that some police officers, who had been watching proceedings from a short distance away, arrested Temmy and Yuningsih as they got out of the taxi, he said.

Agus said the taxi driver, identified as Supeno, is an undercover police officer, and he helped arrest the couple.

Last week the prosecutor asked the court to sentence Yuningsih to 10 months in jail for knowing about but not reporting the heroin deal to police.

Presiding judge Asmar Ismail adjourned the trial until Feb. 9 to hear the defendant's lawyers' plea. (jun)