Australian man Robert Roberts may be sentenced to death (photo by the Sun Vanguard)
According to the Sun Pioneer, an Australian accountant was found carrying 20 grams of methamphetamine and MDMA in his luggage at Bali Airport in Indonesia, facing up to 20 years in prison and even death.
On December 4, when Robert (Isaac Emmanuel Roberts), a former Liberal National Party candidate, arrived in Bali, Indonesia, his luggage was seized with 14.32 grams of methamphetamine, 6.22 MDMA and 22 milliliters of Alprazolam (alprazolam),. Arrested by local police. On the 19th, Roberts and two other suspects attended a press conference, denouncing the media for false reports.
Roberts, 35, said it was totally untrue that he had colluded with local customs officials who had been invited to Bali because they knew it would bring "benefits." Roberts argued that he was only an occasional methamphetamine smoker and was reported to be a "repeat offender" of smuggling several kilograms of drug.
Police say Roberts admits to taking drugs but is not a drug dealer, so Roberts may not be charged with drug smuggling. Indonesian authorities punish drug abusers relatively lightly, drug traffickers are severely punished, drug smuggling charges can be sentenced to death.
However, Roberts will still face alleged importation and possession of drugs and illegal psychotropic substances, the maximum still punishable by the death penalty.
It is reported that Roberts will be tried early next year. Indonesia implements extremely strict anti-drug laws, and foreigners in Indonesia will be sentenced to heavy sentences even if they are involved in very small amounts of drugs.
