Student jailed for possessing heroin

Student jailed for possessing heroin

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced a
senior high school student yesterday to two months and 20 days in
prison for possessing putaw, a low-grade heroin.

Presiding judge Rusdi As'ad said police arrested defendant
Rico Ardiansayah, 16, on Aug. 13 in a raid on Jl. Banyumas,
Central Jakarta.

Rusdi said two police officers approached Rico and his friends
and asked why they were loitering on the street during school
hours.

When Rico was asked to produce his identification card, he
flung four small plastic packages behind him, he said.

One of the officers picked up the packages and discovered they
contained heroin, he said.

Rico admitted to buying the putaw for Rp 20,000 (US$5.50) a
package from someone in front of Robinson's Department Store in
Senen, Central Jakarta, he said.

The first-grade student told police he had bought the heroin
for personal use, he said.

Rusdi said he gave Rico a lenient sentence because he was
still young and it was only 0.07 grams of putaw.

"Rico also voiced regret over his behavior and promised not to
do it again," he said.

Rico was charged under Article 23 (c) of Law No. 9/1973 on
narcotics.

The article carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail
or a fine of up to Rp 15 million.

Prosecutor Tony Spontana had requested that the court sentence
Rico to three months in jail. (jun)