A British man accused of drugs offences has asked for a lighter sentence in a court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali after a charge that could have carried the death penalty was dropped.
Thomas Parker, from Cumbria, was arrested on January 21 at a villa near Kuta Beach, a popular tourist spot, after he allegedly picked up a parcel from a motorbike taxi driver in a nearby street.
According to court documents obtained by The Associated Press, officers noticed Parker “acting suspiciously.”
He reportedly threw the package away in a panic and fled when police approached him. He was tracked to the villa where he was staying and arrested.
Court documents state that lab tests confirmed the package contained just over a kilogram of MDMA, the main ingredient in ecstasy.
Parker was originally charged with drug trafficking and faced the death penalty by firing squad if convicted.
However, the drug trafficking charge was dropped when investigators determined that the package had no direct connection to him.
Information about the case was not made public until authorities displayed Parker in handcuffs at a news conference on March 6.
During the police investigation, the 32-year-old electrician was able to prove that he did not order the package. It was reportedly sent by a drug dealer friend of his, known only as Nicky, with whom Parker had known for about two years and regularly communicated via the Telegram app.
During the trial, which began last month, Parker told the court he initially refused to collect the parcel but agreed to do so when Nicky assured him it was safe.
Parker was told that someone would soon take her away from him, said his lawyer, Edward Pangkahila. Nicky did not promise Parker any money or other reward, Mr. Pangkahila added.
Authorities reduced the charge from drug trafficking to a lesser charge of concealing information from authorities. On May 6, prosecutors asked for a one-year prison sentence for Parker.
However, in the Indonesian legal system, judges play a key role as legal determinants in the process. They can add additional charges if the applicable laws are unclear or non-existent, meaning that drug trafficking charges can be reinstated.
Mr Pangkahila said Parker last saw Nicky a year ago when he was on holiday in Thailand.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
