"We hand down a punishment of 18 years in jail for the defendant, with additional confinement of three months or a fine of Rp1 billion."
Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - The Denpasar district court on Monday handed down a 18-year jail term on Michael Sacatides (43) for smuggling in 1.7 kg of crystal methamphetamine.

"Based on article 112 clause 2 Law No. 35 / 2009 on Narcotics, we hand down a punishment of 18 years in jail for the defendant, with additional confinement of three months or a fine of Rp1 billion," Presiding Judge Sigit Sutanto said when reading the verdict.

The punishment is heavier than the prosecutor`s demand for the defendant of 16 years in jail.

The heavier punishment was meted out by the judges because the defendant had committed a crime which ran counter to the government`s on going program of combating illegal circulation of drugs or narcotics.

Michael Sacatides was arrested by customs officers on October 1, 2010 at Ngurah Rai International airport for possessing 1.7 kg of crstal methamphetamine.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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