Seven years sought for drug producing

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor demanded on Tuesday the Central Jakarta District Court sentence defendant Yosep Agustian Chendra to seven years in jail for allegedly producing drugs.

"The defendant has violated article 60 of the 1997 Law on Psychotropic Substances," prosecutor Alan Widati said in a hearing presided over by judge Marni Emmy.

The article carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a maximum fine of Rp 200 million (US$27,027).

The prosecutor said the 31-year-old defendant was arrested by the city police detectives in a room in Hotel Milennium in Central Jakarta last July.

"The police seized 60 red ecstasy pills, found in the defendant's jacket," she said.

After summoning the defendant, the police developed the investigation by raiding the defendant's house located on Jl. Kebon Jeruk in West Jakarta, she said.

"In the house, the police confiscated 796 ecstasy pills, one pill molder, one weighing scale and two glass jars filled with yellow and white psychotropic powders," she said.

The prosecutor said the devices were used to produce psychotropic substances without license from the Ministry of Health.

The presiding judge adjourned the hearing until next week when he will issue a verdict. (asa)