Two tried for drug dealing

JAKARTA (JP): Two men were indicted at West Jakarta District Court yesterday for trying to sell 100 Ecstasy pills worth about Rp 2.8 million (US$777.70).

Prosecutor Ohoi Ulun said the two defendants, identified as Anam Yacob, 31, and Ali Hartono, 29, were arrested at Atlanta Discotheque in Tamansari, West Jakarta, on July 13.

The discotheque's security guards apprehended the defendants when they tried to offer some of the pills to a prospective buyer called Darmawan, Ohoi said.

He said the two men and Darmawan were taken to a nearby police station for questioning.

Police officers found the defendants' remaining pills, after the interrogation, in the tape recorder of a car rented by Anam, Ohoi said.

Anam admitted buying the pills from a man, Yacob Budi, at Pecenongan Hotel on Jl. Samanhudi, Central Jakarta, on July 12, he said.

Anam, a resident of Lampung, also implicated a middleman, identified as Wewe, who had set up the meeting with the Ecstasy supplier. Wewe is still at large.

The prosecutor charged Anam and Ali under Article 60 of Law No. 5/1997 on psychotropic drugs, which carries a jail sentence of 15 years and fines of Rp 200 million.

He said Budi and Darmawan were tried in the same court but during different sessions.

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