Three more jailed on Ecstasy charges

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): The Tangerang District Court sentenced three people to jail yesterday for smuggling more than 60,000 Ecstasy pills from Netherlands into Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Ronny Soewoyo, 41, got two years jail, housewife Okki Suryani, 31, got 18 months jail, while Julianto Arief Indrajaya, 30, got a year in jail.

The sentences were harsher than the 10 month terms the prosecutor demanded.

They were also fined Rp 1 million each.

Presiding judge Ratna Zubaida said they collaborated with another defendant, Ridwan Chaniago, to smuggle 60,778 Ecstasy pills.

On Wednesday Ridwan got three years jail for masterminding the April smuggling attempt.

After the hearing Okki said the harsh sentence was because of public pressure from the Nov. 15. youth demonstration.

Defense lawyer Tubagus Gandasubrata said he would probably appeal.

The court found the defendants guilty of violating the 1992 Law on Health, specifically Articles 80 (4b) and 40 (1), which prohibit the production and distribution of drugs not registered with the Ministry of Health.

The maximum penalty is 15 years jail and a Rp 300 million fine.

Judge Ratna said Ronny and Okki, the wife of a local film star, were guilty of cooperating with Chaniago to smuggle the pills, while Julianto, a Garuda Indonesia employee, was guilty of assisting them.

According to the indictment, Chaniago was assigned by Ronny and Okki to go to the Netherlands to get the pills and bring them to Indonesia.

Chaniago flew Garuda flight GA 089055 and carried the Ecstasy pills in four boxes stuffed in a suitcase.

Julianto was assigned to take care the pills when Chaniago arrived at the airport.

Julianto failed to do this because he was not on duty at the time and the suitcase containing the pills was unclaimed and sent to the lost and found counter.

"Julianto asked Ronny and Okki to take care of the suitcase instead," the judge said quoting the indictment.

The four were arrested by police at the Ibis Hotel Arcadia in Central Jakarta. (27/sur)