Prabowo faces jail over heroin

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor demanded on Monday that the Central Jakarta District Court sentence a man to one year in jail for possession of 2.52 grams of heroin.

Prosecutor Fahrur Rozy told the court, presided over by judge Hupojo, that police arrested A.D.A. Prabowo in April this year during a raid on his home in Kebon Sirih subdistrict, Central Jakarta.

The police seized a syringe and a small plastic package containing the drug, the prosecutor said.

"The defendant has violated Article 22 of Narcotics Law 1997, which calls for a maximum sentence of one year in jail," Fahrur said.

He said the defendant was guilty of possession of drugs without permission from the Minister of Health.

"The defendant also failed to prove that the heroin he possessed was for research purposes," he said.

Prabowo admitted his possession of the drug but asked the judges for leniency.

"I regret my mistake, your honor. And I request that you lower the sentence," the defendant told the judges.

Hupojo adjourned the trial until Friday when the verdict will be heard. (asa)