Two men face court for trafficking marijuana

JAKARTA (JP): Two men were indicted during separate sessions at East Jakarta District Court yesterday for trafficking a total of two kilograms of marijuana.

The first defendant, Ahmad Husain, 33, was arrested on Jl. Pisangan Timur in East Jakarta on Aug. 21 with 1.98 kilos of marijuana in his possession, prosecutor Sri Yatmi said.

Husain, a taxi driver, told police that he was helping a friend, identified as Arifin, transport the marijuana, Sri said.

An undercover police officer had been watching the defendants since Husain and his accomplice arrived at the scene in a bajaj (motorized three-wheeled vehicle).

Sri said that Arifin told Husain to wait on the street with the marijuana while he tried to meet a prospective buyer.

The police officer, who pretended to be a bajaj driver, approached and arrested the defendant but failed to capture Arifin, who never returned, she said.

Husain, of Jl. Johar Baru in Central Jakarta, had met Arifin in Johar Baru market and accepted the "job" to accompany him, she said.

The defendant was charged under Article 23 of Law No. 9/1976 on narcotics.

If he is found guilty, Husain faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail or fines of Rp 10 million (US$4,347), she said.

Presiding judge Kamar Sembiring adjourned the trial for two weeks to hear the prosecutor's submission on punishment.

During another session in the same district court yesterday, a 24-year-old man was indicted for trafficking a few grams of marijuana and some barbiturate pills.

Prosecutor Ahmad Usman said Untung Setiabudi was arrested at Jatinegara Plaza on Jl. Matraman in East Jakarta on Aug. 29.

Usman said a security guard of the shopping center arrested Untung, who seemed drunk, and found the marijuana in the defendant's bag.

He said Untung admitted taking six barbiturate pills before he was arrested.

He was charged under the same article of the law as the other defendant.

Sembiring adjourned the trial until next week. (jun)