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)