Woman indicted on drug charges

JAKARTA (JP): Dewi Andreas Marantika, who was arrested last August for the possession of 737 grams of marijuana and 18 packages of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), was indicted on Thursday.

"The defendant violated Article 82 of the 1997 Law on Narcotics by possessing and selling marijuana," prosecutor Abdul Kadir Latief said during the indictment at the Central Jakarta District Court. The proceedings were presided over by judge Endang Sri Murwati.

The article carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in jail and a fine of Rp 1 billion.

The prosecutor said the 22-year-old defendant also violated Article 60 of the 1997 Law on Psychotropic Substances by selling shabu-shabu. This article carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a Rp 100 million fine.

Endang adjourned the trial until next week, at which time the court will hear testimony from witnesses. (asa)