Thai woman tried in drug case

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The trial of a 21-year-old Thai woman, charged with attempting to smuggle 850 grams of heroin from into the country from Thailand, began Monday at Tangerang District court.

The defendant, Nonthanam M. Saichon, a Bangkok masseuse, arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sept. 1 on Thai Airlines' Flight TG-433, prosecutor Asran Harahap said in his five-page indictment.

When customs and excise officer Ristola Naiggolan searched her bag, he grew suspicious, as the suspect appeared confused and nervous.

Finding nothing, Ristola asked two female officers to search her body. They found six plastic packages containing 600 grams of pure heroin attached to the defendant's underwear and bra, Asran testified. The estimated worth of the amount was more than Rp 1 billion.

After the police handed over dossiers along with the suspect to the Tangerang prosecutors' office on Sept. 12, the suspect was transferred to the Tangerang Women's Penitentiary.

While searching the defendant's luggage, the warden found another 250 grams of heroin hidden in a vibrator in her purse.

Prosecutor Asran explained that the airport officers did not find it because "the defendant might have inserted the penis-like toy into her vagina as she arrived at the airport."

The defendant, however, denied the speculation.

"As I was arrested, customs and police officers only opened my purse, but they did not look into the contents of the purse," she told The Jakarta Post.

Presiding Judge Prim Haryadi adjourned the hearing until Dec. 26, when the court will hear other witnesses.