Prosecutor wants trial of Zarina to go on

JAKARTA (JP): A state prosecutor urged the West Jakarta District Court yesterday to go on with its trial of Zarina, a budding TV actress, charged with producing, possessing, and distributing 29,677 Ecstasy pills, and ignore the defense lawyers' objections.

Prosecutor Rizia Jamil told the court that the defense lawyers' claims last week that the indictment was defective were subjective and premature because they touched on matters that would be proven in court.

Zarina's lawyers' conclusion that the indictment was incomplete and vague, was incorrect because the indictment had met all the proper requirements, she said.

She said the charges that the defendant had produced and distributed Ecstasy were clear enough and whether or not she had would be proven in the trial.

Defense lawyers told the court last week that the indictment failed to mention where and how the pills were produced or how and to whom they were distributed. They said the prosecutors in their indictment also failed to mention the legal status of the drug.

Zarina, whose real name is Zarima Mir Mirafsur, was accused of violating Article 80 (4) and Article 40 (1) of 1992 Health Law No. 23. If found guilty she could face up to 15 years jail or a maximum fine of Rp 300 million (US$125,000).

The defendant made headlines when she escaped a police escort taking her from the Tangerang Police Precinct to the Jakarta Police Headquarters on Aug. 8 last year. She was rearrested in Houston, USA, on Nov. 4 and brought home on Nov. 17.

After the prosecutor spoke yesterday Henry Yosodiningrat, one of Zarina's lawyers, asked the court to give them a chance to express another objection.

Judge Sumantri urged the lawyers not mix up their objection to the trial with the defense statement.

The trial was adjourned until Feb. 27. (13)