Pubdate: Thu, 31 May 2007 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) 7 DRUG DEALERS APPEAL JAIL SENTENCES, GET DEATH Judges Feared Methods Taught to Inmates JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Supreme Court converted jail terms given to seven foreigners in a drug case to death sentences after the defendants appealed against the length of their prison terms. The judges yesterday ruled the drug operation, involving a plant capable of making a million tablets of the amphetamine known as ecstasy a week, was part of an international organized-crime operation, court spokes-man Joko Sarwoko said. Dutch national Nicolaas Garnick and Frenchman Serge Areski Atlaoui had previously been sentenced by lower courts to life in prison. Five Chinese nationals had previously received 20-year jail terms and two Indonesians, previously sentenced to death, had their punishments upheld. "These people set up an organized corporation to make illegal drugs," Sarwoko said. "They are experts and may teach other inmates how to make drugs. The Supreme Court decided to instead give death sentences." The defendants can seek a presidential pardon, rarely given in drug cases, Sarwoko said. Indonesia last year sentenced to death six of nine Australians caught in Bali trying to smuggle almost nine kilograms of heroin to Australia. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake