Regent's daughter prosecuted for drugs

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The prosecutor demanded on Monday that the Medan District Court sentence Yeni Sri Perangin-Angin, the daughter of Karo Regent Sinar Perangin-Angin, to six months in prison for drug possession.

In separate trials on the same day, prosecutor Mardiana Sianturi also demanded six-month prison sentences for Yeni's friends M. Lutfi Nasution and Fachrurozi.

The three university students were arrested on June 2, when they were found inhaling shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) in a house belonging to Yeni's family in Citra Wisata housing complex in Medan, said Mardiana.

Besides demanding six-month prison sentences for the three students, the prosecutor also demanded that they each be ordered to pay a Rp 1 million fine.

The demand was far below the maximum three-year sentence stipulated in the 1997 Narcotics Law.

The demand for short sentences sparked allegations that prosecutor Mardiana had accepted bribes from the parents of the three students. However, Mardiana denied the allegation, saying that the three students did not deserved long jail sentences.

"They have never been prosecuted before, and the Bima Hospital has issued a letter stating that they are addicted to drugs," Mardiana told The Jakarta Post. -- JP