S'poreans jailed for smuggling pills

S'poreans jailed for smuggling pills

TANGERANG (JP): The local district court here sentenced two
Singaporeans to four years in jail each for attempting to smuggle
thousands of Ecstasy pills into the country late last year.

During separate trials Monday, the defendants -- identified as
Loh Kok Ban, 37, and Lim Thian Kwang, 25 -- were each ordered to
also pay a fine of Rp 4 million (US$695).

Presiding judge HB Simatupang found Loh guilty of trying to
smuggle 8,439 Ecstasy pills and 240 grams of powder through
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Dec. 14, 1996.

In a separate session, Judge Hakimanzah found Lim guilty of
attempting to smuggle 8,097 Ecstasy pills and 200 grams of
Ecstasy powder through the same airport the following day.

Both men arrived in Jakarta on board a Cathay Pacific flight.

Their nervousness apparently alerted customs officials, who
searched the men's belongings and found the contraband in their
suitcases.

The verdicts were one year less than the prosecutors had
requested but the fines were Rp 1 million higher.

Through their lawyers, the Singaporeans said they had expected
lighter sentences and would appeal to a higher court. (bsr/41)