Nigerian tried for selling drugs

JAKARTA (JP): A Nigerian man was indicted at Central Jakarta District Court yesterday on charges of selling 2.48 kilograms of putauw, a low-grade heroin.

Prosecutor Agus Widodo said the defendant, Edhosa Agahowa alias Temmy, 28, and his girlfriend, Yuningsih, were arrested in Pecenongan, Central Jakarta on Aug. 24.

Agus said a police informant, Yusak, telephoned Temmy several times and arranged to meet the defendant in a room at Pecenongan Hotel.

Temmy and Yuningsih arrived at the hotel about 9:30 p.m.

He said Temmy asked Yusak to prove he had enough money, saying that Yusak could have 5 kilos of heroin for Rp 100 million (US$30,303). But Yusak said he only had Rp 50 million so he agreed to buy less.

Agus said Temmy asked Yusak to accompany him to Sintera Hotel in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, to pick up the heroin from a man, identified as Lewis.

They took a taxi to the hotel and Temmy went inside. He returned to the taxi with a plastic bag containing heroin and they returned to Pecenongan Hotel, he said.

At a nearby gasoline station, police officers who had been following the suspects' movements arrested the couple, who had Yusak's money in their possession, the prosecutor said.

The defendant's girlfriend, Yuningsih, will be tried in a separate session in the same court.

Agus charged the defendant under Article 23 (5) of Law 9/1976 on narcotics.

If the defendant is found guilty, he may face a penalty ranging from 20 years in jail to death and fines of Rp 50 million.

Presiding judge Asmar Ismail adjourned the trial until next week to hear a statement from the defendant's lawyers'. (jun)