Singaporean tried for Ecstasy

JAKARTA (JP): A Singaporean was indicted at the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday, charged with keeping and possessing 1,900 Ecstasy pills.

Prosecutor Zen Idris said the 38-year-old Low Gin Ang alias Jimmy or Jack, was arrested by police on April 16 at a hotel in Mangga Dua area with the pills.

Low is charged under Article 59 of the 1997 Law on Psychotropic, an offense punishable with up to 15 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp 750 million ($300,000).

Police investigation found that Low had flown from Singapore with the ecstasy pills which he obtained from an Indonesian identified as Iwan, Zen said.

In Jakarta, the defendant had contacted another Indonesian who had offered Rp 26,000 for each pill, he said.

The defendant was arrested with the pills before he had the chance to meet with the would-be buyer, the prosecution said.

The trial was adjourned until next week. (12)