Prosecutor seeks five years jail for Zarina

JAKARTA (JP): The prosecution has asked the West Jakarta District Court to sentence budding TV actress Zarina to five years jail for possessing Ecstasy.

Prosecutor Rizia Djamil said Zarina, 25, violated the 1992 Health Law by possessing Ecstasy but did not make or traffic the drug.

She faces a maximum seven years jail or a Rp 140,000,000 (US$56,000) fine.

The House of Representatives endorsed last year a bill on psychotropic drugs that introduced the death penalty for members of Ecstasy-trafficking syndicates.

The bill has not yet become law.

Rizia said Zarina should be jailed because she had made conflicting statements and shown no remorse.

She said the crime was made worse because Zarina escaped from Tangerang police custody and fled to Houston, Texas.

Zarina was being escorted from Tangerang to Jakarta Police headquarters when she escaped.

U.S. immigration officials accompanied by Jakarta police later arrested her in Houston.

Rizia said Ecstasy was a "very dangerous drug which could ruin the future of the younger generation".

Zarina, wearing an ivory business suit with matching shoes and handbag, showed no emotion during the session.

But she almost burst into tears when mobbed by reporters who pushed cameras and tape recorders into her face.

Her only comment was "no comment", as her relatives dragged her away.

The court was packed and some applauded when the prosecutor finished reading her sentence request.

Zarina's lawyer, Amir Syamsudin, said outside the court that the sentence request was too stiff.

"This is because the prosecution did not see the juridical facts. But I think that is common in cases that create national headlines," Amir said.

Zarina's other lawyer, Henry Yosodinigrat, said the court should find Zarina not guilty of all charges because she did not know there were Ecstasy pills in her safe.

The trial was adjourned until May 19 to hear the defense's rebuttals. (12)

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