Prosecutor seeks jail term for smuggler

TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang district attorney demanded a sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 15 million for a Thai woman who attempted to smuggle in 4.25 kilograms of heroin on Feb. 17.

Upon hearing the indictment read by prosecutor Rustam Nawawi, the defendant, Supharon Phanluang, alias Nang, 32, broke into tears at a courtroom session on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Rustam said the defendant was apprehended when she attempted to pass the Soekarno-Hatta Airport checkpoint in Terminal D with a bag containing the heroin.

The 4.25 kilograms of first-grade heroin has a total street value of about Rp 1.54 billion (US$202,993).

Rustam said the woman disembarked from Thai Airways flight number TG 433 on February 17 and was stopped at the checkpoint.

"The customs officers checked her bag by inserting a needle into it and withdrawing it with a sample of the drug inside," he said.

The sample was taken to the National Police laboratory and was proved to be first-grade heroin.

Phanluang was asked to come to Jakarta with the drugs by a friend in Thailand named Peko, the prosecutor said. Peko paid for her trip and said a woman named Sriyanti would pick her up at the airport.

The Thai woman reportedly saw Sriyanti at the airport, but the latter fled after seeing customs officers apprehending Phanluang.

Court was adjourned until next week to hear Phanluang's defense statement.

On Tuesday, customs officers at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport arrested another Thai woman, Khanchana Thiangtum, 28, for attempting to smuggle 1.75 kilograms of pure heroin.

Article 80 of Narcotics Law No. 22/1997 carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 750 million for individuals who are charged with smuggling drugs into the country. (41/edt)