Prosecutor wants trial of Zarina to go on

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)