Pakistani jailed for possessing heroin

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Muhammad Rafiq Choudry of Pakistan yesterday to two years and six months in jail and fined him Rp 1 million for possessing 450 grams of heroin.

The verdict, which was read by presiding judge Pieter Purba, was one year more than demanded by prosecutor Djoko Isworo.

"The defendant was found guilty of violating Article 23 (3) of Law 9/1976 on narcotics," Pieter said. The article carries a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment and a Rp 15 million fine.

Pieter said the defendant had given complicated statements during the trial sessions. "The defendant has destroyed the country's efforts to eliminate drug trafficking."

He said Choudry, 36, and his brother Muhammad Syafiq Choudry, 39, were arrested on June 17 in Wisma Bintang Hotel in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta.

They were involved in a heroin deal with a buyer named Jefri, who agreed to pay them Rp 40 million for the heroin, he said. Jefri managed to escape.

Ali Liquat, the defendant's accomplice, was arrested the following day at a discotheque in West Jakarta after police shot him in the left leg for resisting arrest.

The defendant's lawyer, Sugianto Soelaiman, was still considering whether to appeal.

Both Syafiq and Ali Liquat were sentenced earlier by the same court.

Syafiq got three years for violating the Article 23 (5) of the same law, while Ali was sent to jail for eight months for not reporting the heroin deal. He is already free. (jun)