The court's judiciary panel, headed by Erma Suharti, also slapped a fine of Rp1 billion on Daud in their verdict that was lighter than the 17-year imprisonment demanded by the prosecutors.
Daud, arrested by South Sumatra’s police officers in Sungai Lilin Sub-district, Musi Banyuasin District, last April was given a week’s time to consult with his team of lawyers to decide whether to file an appeal against the verdict.
Daud confessed to being hired by Joe, a fugitive, to transport one kilogram of crystal meth from Tanjung Jaya Hamlet in Meunasah Bujok Village, Baktiya Sub-district, North Aceh District, Aceh Province, to Bandarlampung in Lampung Province.
Joe promised to pay Daud Rp55 million for transporting the drug package, but he had just received Rp5 million for transportation expenses.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers perceive Indonesia as a potential market owing to its vast population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the nation is valued at nearly Rp66 trillion.
People from all sections of society are falling prey to drugs, regardless of socio-economic and professional backgrounds.
In the face of the grave threat posed by drug lords, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko sought capital punishment for those involved in drug trade in the country.
National Police Chief General Idham Azis recently highlighted that district courts in different parts of Indonesia had awarded capital punishment to at least 100 drug offenders in the first half of 2020.
"May they soon be executed by firing squads to deter others," he stressed while bearing witness to the National Police special task force’s move to destroy 1.2 tons of crystal meth, 35,000 ecstasy pills, and 410 kg of marijuana in Jakarta on July 2, 2020.
The Indonesian Legal and Human Rights Ministry has also hinted its support for transferring convicted drug dealers and producers to the maximum-security prison in Cilacap District's Nusakambangan Island since it has adequate number of vacant prison cells.
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Azis M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
