Court drops charges, deports Indonesians

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A COURT has ordered the deportation of 17 Indonesians accused of being in possession of marijuana.
Vanimo District Court Magistrate Baptist Fehi said their work permit expired while they were detained in police custody over two months.
The court dismissed their cases last Monday as there were no witnesses to testify against them during the trial.
They were released into the custody of the Vanimo-based Indonesian consul and ordered to be deported by 4.06pm.
They can reapply for work permit in Indonesia to return to PNG.
Fehi said they were employed by the Bewani Oil Palm Limited at Imbio.
Police and soldiers caught the Indonesians in April with a small quantity of marijuana at the military check point near Wutung village.
They were on their way to the Batas shopping centre to call their families.
However the soldiers and police in their routine check ordered them out of the vehicle.
They discovered marijuana under the canvas.
They were brought to the Vanimo police station and charged with being in possession of marijuana.