Zarina Ecstasy trial opens to full courthouse

JAKARTA (JP): Budding TV actress Zarina appeared in the West Jakarta District Court amid tight security yesterday on charges of producing, possessing and distributing 29,677 Ecstasy pills.

Zarina, whose real name is Zarima Mir Mirafsur, looked relaxed and occasionally smiled as Prosecutor Rizia Jamil read the indictment.

Rizia alleged that on Aug. 7 last year Tangerang police found the 24-year-old defendant with the pills in a steel safe in her bedroom at her rented house in Taman Alfa Indah, Joglo, West Jakarta. The police were acting on a tip.

"The defendant refused to open the safe saying there was nothing inside it and that she did not have the keys. But, when the safe was about to be transported to the Tangerang Police Precinct, the defendant said there were 4,000 Ecstasy pills in it," Rizia said.

"You don't have to open them and go to the police precinct. We can settle the case here and I'll give you Rp 30 million," Rizia quoted Zarina as saying to police.

There was an uproar in the court when Rizia said this. The court was packed with elementary school students, uniformed senior high school students, housewives and others. Zarina's elder brother, Zulian Zoelfikar, was also present.

The crowd murmured to each other until presiding judge Sumantri pounded the gavel and demanded silence. "Please. This is not a public square or something. This court will decide someone's fate," he said.

The court room on the 2nd floor had two large electric ceiling fans but lacked fresh air.

The prosecutor said there were four kinds of pills and Rp 100,000 cash in the steel safe. "There were 6,886 green, 2,920 blue, 16,929 yellow and 2,942 white pills."

The results of the National Police Laboratory tests indicated the pills were Ecstasy. Ecstasy is grouped as a psychotropic drug and not a narcotic.

"The pills did not meet the standard required by Indonesian Pharmacopoeia and were listed as drugs regulated by Health Law No. 23/1992 and the Minister of Health's Decree No. 124/1993 on drugs," the prosecutor said.

"The defendant has violated Article 80 (4) or Article 40 (1) of 1992 Health Law No. 23," she said.

The possession and trafficking of Ecstasy are illegal under the 1992 Health Law No. 23. Anyone caught breaking this law can be sentenced up to 15 years jail or fined up to Rp 300 million (US$124,000).

The House of Representatives endorsed Monday a bill on psychotropic drugs that would allow courts to sentence to death members of syndicates trafficking Ecstasy. The bill now needs only a directive to become effective.

The session lasted about 25 minutes and was characterized by photographers and visitors eager to see Zarina. Zarina gained notoriety and made newspaper headlines when she escaped from a police escort from the Tangerang Police Precinct to the Jakarta Police Headquarters on Aug. 8 last year.

Capt. Ade, who escorted her, was sacked.

Zarina was arrested in Houston, USA, on Nov. 4, and was brought home on Nov. 17.

Her story encouraged people to go to see her personally.

The judge had to postpone the session for 10 minutes to give photographers time to photograph the defendant.

Dini, 24, a senior high school student, said she and her school mates were just curious to see Zarina.

Some civil servants from the Ministry of Agriculture's West Jakarta office came out of curiosity too.

Syaiful, 31, a driver at a bank in Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, said the trial was "a play about certain people."

"I believe Zarina's case involves big drug dealers," he said.

He said Zarina did not deserve any special treatment from the court.

Just after the prosecutor finished reading the indictment Zarina's lawyer Henry Yosodiningrat asked the court to release her from the Pondok Bambu detention house and place her under house arrest.

"We guarantee that she will not escape and will not disrupt or damage the material evidence. We also promise to make her appear in court whenever necessary," Henry said.

Zarina was accompanied by lawyers Amir Syamsuddin, OC Kaligis, Nurhasim Ilyas, and Henry.

Judge Sumantri said the court would think about the request, and gave the prosecution seven days to prepare its objection. (07/13/sur)