A South African national identified as Lungile Ntombenhile Mzimela has been sentenced to eight years and six months in prison after being found guilty of smuggling methamphetamine into Bali. The verdict was delivered by the panel of judges at the Denpasar District Court, which ruled that Mzimela had concealed the illicit substance in her undergarments when entering Indonesia.
The court stated that the eight-and-a-half-year sentence will be reduced by the duration of her pretrial detention. Judges also ordered that the 32-year-old woman remain in custody following the announcement of the ruling.
“The defendant Lungile Ntombenhile Mzimela was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison,” said the Denpasar District Court Panel of Judges, Iman Luqmanul Hakim, in the trial, Tuesday (25/11/2025).
In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of one billion rupiah. If Mzimela fails to pay the fine, she will face an additional 3 months’ imprisonment.
Sentence Lighter Than Prosecutor’s Demand
The verdict issued by the judicial panel was lighter than the sentence sought by prosecutor Ni Luh Putu Suparmi. The prosecution had requested that Mzimela be sentenced to eleven years in prison for violating Indonesian narcotics laws.
Despite handing down a shorter sentence, the judges noted aggravating factors in the case. The court highlighted that as a foreign national, Mzimela was expected to comply with Indonesian regulations, particularly those related to narcotics control.
“What is mitigating is that the defendant was polite, honest and frank and was pregnant,” added the panel of judges.
Legal Team Confirms Acceptance of Verdict
Following the reading of the verdict, Mzimela’s legal counsel, Putu Kakoi Adi Surya, stated that the defendant had accepted the court’s decision. Kakoi confirmed this after meeting with Mzimela shortly after the sentencing hearing.
“Receive your majesty,” said Kakoi.
The JPU also gave the same answer. “Same your majesty,” he explained.
Arrest at Ngurah Rai Airport
Mzimela was apprehended by customs officers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on the night of 13 July 2025. She had traveled from Johannesburg to Singapore before landing in Bali, where officers carried out a routine inspection.
During the examination, officers discovered a package containing methamphetamine concealed in her underwear. The substance was identified as a category I non-plant narcotic. Officials recorded the weight of the seized package at 1,093.02 grams gross and 990.83 grams net.
Details of Smuggling Attempt
Investigators determined that the methamphetamine had been supplied by a man identified as Sindi, who is also from South Africa. According to the case file, Sindi promised Mzimela a payment of 20,000 South African Rand, approximately 17 million rupiah, if the package was successfully delivered to Bali. She was also provided with $500 to cover travel expenses.
The arrangement between the pair allegedly took place at the Sabby Hotel in Johannesburg. At the time of her arrest, Mzimela was three months pregnant and attempting to transport the narcotics into Indonesia before being stopped by airport authorities.
