Final 'Bali Nine' drug suspect on trial<\/p>\n
Agencies, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
The final member of the so-called \"Bali Nine\", arrested in April
\nfor allegedly smuggling heroin, went on trial on Friday on the
\ntourist island and faces the death penalty if convicted.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor I Wayan Nasta said 29-year-old Renae Lawrence was
\ncaught red-handed at Bali airport with 2.1 kilograms of heroin
\nstrapped to her legs and back.<\/p>\n
\"Lawrence has violated Indonesian law by importing, exporting,
\ndistributing, buying and selling heroin in an organized way,\" he
\ntold the Denpasar District Court.<\/p>\n
\"When arrested, Lawrence had packages of heroin strapped with
\ntape to her thighs and her back,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Lawrence's lawyer Haposan Sihombing admitted the charge but
\nsaid his client did not deserve the death sentence as she was
\nmerely a drug mule.<\/p>\n
\"My client was caught red-handed but we know in this case she
\nwas ordered to carry the drugs by someone else,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another of Lawrence's lawyers, Ian Apul Girsang, lashed out at
\nthe court for trying his client separately from the other four
\nwho were arrested at the airport.<\/p>\n
\"She feels as if she is being victimized,\" Girsang told
\nreporters after the trial began.<\/p>\n
The arrests of the \"Bali Nine\" sparked controversy in
\nAustralia after it emerged that Australian police had tipped off
\ntheir Indonesian counterparts, even though Canberra opposes the
\ndeath sentence.<\/p>\n
Some critics said they should have been arrested on their
\nreturn to Australia.<\/p>\n
The eight other members of the \"Bali Nine\" have already
\nappeared in court this week, also facing the death penalty if
\nconvicted over the alleged attempt to smuggle a total of 11.2
\nkilograms of heroin to Australia.<\/p>\n
The nine are among several young Australians facing death or
\nlong jail terms for alleged involvement in drug smuggling in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Former beauty student Schapelle Corby, 28, was jailed for 20
\nyears in May for smuggling marijuana from Australia to Bali. Her
\njail term, considered extreme by many back home in Australia, was
\ncut to 15 years on Wednesday but she has filed a second appeal to
\noverturn the sentence.<\/p>\n
An Australian model, Michelle Leslie, 24, is also due to face
\ntrial in Bali for the illegal possession of two ecstasy tablets
\nfollowing her arrest in August, and could serve up to 15 years in
\njail if convicted.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/final-bali-nine-drug-suspect-on-trial-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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