Pakistani jailed for possessing heroin

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)