Woman died after drinking herb

JAKARTA (JP): A 21-year-old woman died on Saturday after drinking a recently banned herb product mixed with soft drink.

The body was sent from Depok, south of Jakarta to the morgue at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Public Hospital.

"The police said that before she died, she drank Laba Laba herb mixed with Sprite," Edi Pratikno, an employee at the morgue said.

Laba Laba is the brand name of the herb, which is not registered at the health ministry. The ministry announced last month that the herb must be withdrawn from the market because it contained substances that might be harmful.

The victim was identified only as Umi, while her address was not clear, Edi quoted the police as saying.

Edi said that Umi might die because of her illness, but he could not elaborate. --JP