S. African faces 15 years in jail

Prosecutors have demanded a sentence of 15 years in jail and a Rp 5 million (US$550) fine against Nkosi Augustine, alias Austin, a South African citizen who has been charged of drug possession.

Prosecutor Mamat Ruchimat told a hearing at the West Jakarta District Court on Thursday that the sentence was suitable as witness testimonies and evidence shows that the defendant violated Article 82 of Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics, for the illegal possession and drug trafficking of a Type I drug.

Furthermore, the defendant's alleged crime has severe potential of destroying the future of the nation's youth, and was in direct violation of the government's attempt to eliminate drug abuse in the country.

Prosecutors said that Austin, 23, was arrested on Apr. 26 by Petamburan police in a hotel. Police officers found a total of 75.62 grams of heroin wrapped in a sock and hidden inside the underwear he was wearing.

Austin denied that the drug was his, but belonged to Oliver, a fellow expatriate who had promised Austin Rp 200,000 to deliver the drug to a buyer at the hotel.

Austin, who claims he is a football player, said that he took up Oliver's offer because he had ran out of money, after failing to find a football club willing to hire him.

Court translators had to repeatedly explain the prosecutor's demands, when Austin, who does not speak Indonesian and was not accompanied by a lawyer, said that he did not understand.

Presiding judge Purnomo Rijadi gave the defendant one week to prepare and deliver his defense plea, in which Austin replied that he would write it himself in English.

The trial will continue on Nov. 4 to hear the defense's plea.