Two tried for heroin trafficking

JAKARTA (JP): Two expatriates from Ghana and Nigeria were indicted at the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday on charges of trafficking 450 grams of heroin.

Prosecutor S. Sitanggang said the Ghanaian and Nigerian defendants, identified respectively as Kofi Frimpong, 24, and Enu Otutu Patric, 28, were charged with Article 23 (4) of Law No. 9/1976 on Narcotics.

"According to the law, if the defendants are found guilty, they may face sentences ranging from 20 years in jail, to life or death and fines of Rp 50 million (US$14,000)," Sitanggang said.

He said the case began after Frimpong met with a man, identified as Fredy, in Bangkok, Thailand, in May who asked the defendant to take the heroin from Fredy's friend in Penang, Malaysia to Jakarta.

Frimpong, a university student, was paid US$500 by Fredy to transport the heroin from Penang to Jakarta, Sitanggang said.

Frimpong, who was to be paid another $2,000 on his arrival in Jakarta, swallowed the heroin which was packed into 39 capsules. He went to Medan, North Sumatra by ferry before arriving at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on May 26, Sitanggang said.

He said the heroin was collected by Patric, who introduced himself as one of Fredy's other friends, from the Pardede Hotel on Jl. Raden Saleh in Central Jakarta.

Frimpong handed over the heroin, which he had discharged from his stomach, to Patric. The two then left the hotel in a taxi, Sitanggang said.

He said the defendants began to panic upon seeing a police officer riding a motorcycle behind their taxi.

"The defendants immediately jumped out of the taxi and were arrested by the policeman, who was suspicious of their conduct," he said.

They were sent to the City Police Headquarters for questioning, he said.

The two defendants were tried in two separate sessions involving the same prosecutor and lawyers, but different judges.

Frimpong's case was led by presiding judge P.A. Sianipar, while Patric's by Abas Sumantri. Their trials were adjourned until next week to hear witnesses' statements. (jun)