An Indonesian court has sentenced an Australian national to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of smuggling cocaine into the resort island of Bali, according to court proceedings announced on Thursday.
The defendant, identified as Lamar Aaron Ahchee, 43, from Gairns in North Queensland, was convicted after judges concluded that he had imported or distributed narcotics, as outlined by Indonesian police during the investigation and trial.
Arrest and Seizure Near Kuta Beach
Ahchee was arrested in May after police raided his rented residence near Kuta Beach, a well-known tourist area in Bali. During the search, officers seized 1.3 kilograms of cocaine that had been divided into 206 plastic clip bags. Police also confiscated a digital scale and a mobile phone from the property.
Authorities stated that the arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali police anti-narcotics surveillance teams. The teams reported that Ahchee had received two suspicious packages that were delivered by post from the United Kingdom. These deliveries prompted further monitoring before the raid and subsequent arrest.
Charges and Court Proceedings
According to Indonesian police, Ahchee was accused of importing or distributing narcotics, a serious offense under Indonesian law. During the trial, Ahchee denied knowing that the packages he received contained cocaine.
A panel heard the case of three judges led by Judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima. In delivering the verdict on Thursday, the panel announced a 12-year prison sentence and a fine of 2 billion rupiah, equivalent to approximately 180,000 Australian dollars.
Sentence Exceeds Prosecutors’ Request
The sentence imposed by the court exceeded the prosecutors’ demand of nine years in prison. Judge Pastima stated that the panel considered several aggravating factors in determining the final punishment.
Among these factors was the quantity of cocaine involved in the case. The judges noted that Ahchee had received a large amount of the narcotic, which they said had the potential to endanger many people. The panel also raised concerns that such activities could undermine Bali’s tourism quality and security.
In addition, the judges stated that the defendant had attempted to evade responsibility and obscure the facts during the legal process. These considerations led to the decision to impose a harsher sentence than the prosecution requested.
