The panel of judges also awarded one year in prison to her husband, Anindra Ardiansyah Bakrie, better known as Ardie Bakrie, and her driver, Zen Vivanto.
Although Nia Ramadhani wore a face mask to comply with the government's health protocols, her eyes had a reddish tinge due to the visible tears as she walked out of the courtroomn on Tuesday at about 11:55 a.m. local time.
According to Wa Ode Nur Zainab, Ramadhani and Barkie's lawyer, her client wept, as she was disappointed with the judges' verdict that failed to take into account the point that they were merely drug abuse victims.
Zainab said she understood her client's situation, as the convicts had attended rehabilitation as recommended by the Integrated Assessment Team of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and BNN-Jakarta Office.
Her clients filed an appeal against the verdict, she noted.
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The judges' verdict disclosed that Nia Ramadhani admitted to having consumed crystal meth since April 2021. Her father's death in 2014 had contributed to her deep sorrow that led her to consume drugs.
Nia Ramadhani and her husband were apprehended in July last year following the arrest of their driver.
Her arrest has added to the list of Indonesian artists arrested in drug cases.
Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been trapped in a vicious circle.
The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report that some 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day has not yet deterred drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
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The users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from any community and from distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.
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In response to the illicit drugs that drug kingpins have smuggled into and traded in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to apply harsh punitive action against them.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, as they continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers keep the fight going against them.
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Translator: Mentari DG, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
