The Depok District Court on
Monday handed down a life sentence to Uzoma Elele Alpha, a 33-year-old Nigerian
man, for possession of methamphetamine and marijuana worth an estimated Rp 6
billion ($451,400).
“Uzoma Elele Alpha has been
proven guilty for owning grade 1 narcotic drugs and is sentenced to life
imprisonment,” Judge Hariyanto said in his ruling at the court on the southern
outskirts of Jakarta
The sentence was lighter than the death penalty sought by prosecutors.
Chief prosecutor Eddy Abdul Aziz
said his team would consider mounting an appeal to obtain the death sentence.
Alpha was arrested at his
apartment at the Margonda Residence tower in Depok last December during a raid
by authorities from the immigration office.
He failed to present valid papers
for being in the country, prompting his arrest and subsequent drug testing,
which came up positive for marijuana use, Jakarta Globe reports.
Police then searched his
apartment where they found seven kilograms of meth and 300 grams of marijuana.
Indonesia’s justice system takes
a notoriously hard line on foreign drug offenders.
Earlier this year, the country
received global condemnation for a series of executions of drug convicts in
which 12 foreign nationals (including four Nigerians), were gunned down by
firing squad.
