Three men tried for trafficking Ecstasy

JAKARTA (JP): Three men were indicted in the West Jakarta District Court yesterday for trafficking 800 Ecstasy pills with a street value of Rp 23 million (US$6,388).

Prosecutor Azwar said the defendants, Darmawan Elius, 23, Fredy alias Andry, 22, and Hendri alias Acing, 21, were arrested in front of Hotel Omni Batavia on Jl. Kali Besar, in Tambora, West Jakarta, on July 7.

He said the defendants were arrested after trying to sell the pills to a prospective buyer, Kevin.

When Kevin expressed interest in buying the pills, Darmawan and Hendri told him they would have to get the drugs from Fredy, Azwar said.

He told the court that Hendri had phoned Fredy at his apartment in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, and the three defendants made an appointment to meet Kevin at Hotel Omni Batavia at 9 p.m.

Fredy arrived with an accomplice, Tikut, who waited inside the hotel with the pills, Azwar said.

When Kevin arrived at the hotel and showed the money to the defendants, Fredy took the pills from Tikut for Kevin to inspect, he said.

Two police officers, Kaderi and Suparno, who were observing the deal, arrested the defendants. But Kevin and Tikut were still at large.

Azwar said Fredy admitted buying the pills from a dealer named Beny, alias Lim Cin Fen.

Fredy bought the pills -- 500 pajero type pills and 300 aladin pills -- for Rp 7,000 each and tried to sell them for Rp 28,000.

The defendants were charged under Article 60 (2) of Law No. 5/1997 on psychotropic drugs.

Azwar said that if found guilty each defendant could be jailed for up to five years or fined up to Rp 100 million.

He said Beny was also arrested by police and tried in the same court but during a different session.

Presiding judge Mohammad Arif adjourned the trial until next week to hear witnesses' testimonies. (jun)