a Harsh Punishment for an Aussie jailed for Bali drugs

[Chip (OP)]

http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2015/07/24/aussie-jailed-drugs-bali/

Aussie jailed for Bali drugs

Nicholas James Langan gets a year in prison for a joint (0.86 grams) of marijuana.

Langan told court he's had drug and alcohol addiction in the past. Photo: AAP
An Australian man in Bali has been jailed for a year after he was caught smoking marijuana on a beach.

Nicholas James Langan, 25, was arrested on Batu Bolong beach in January, when he was spotted smoking a joint with an Indonesian who worked as a driver a hotel.

At the time, 0.86 grams of marijuana were seized by police.

Indonesia has recently stepped up a campaign against drug use and the tough sentence came almost three months after eight drug convicts, including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad despite international appeals for mercy.

“The defendant is proven convincingly and legally guilty of misusing drugs for personal use,” presiding judge Cening Budiana told a court in Denpasar as he sentenced Langan.

Langan, from Townsville, told authorities during the trial that he had a history of drug and alcohol addiction and that he regularly smoked with the driver, Hanung Pekik Hermantoro.

Prosecutors had recommended a four year sentence.

Locals caught with larger amounts of marijuana have been given lighter sentences, Fairfax Media reported.

Langan, through an interpreter, told reporters he “needed time to consider” whether to appeal the verdict.

He has already spent in jail since his January arrest, which will count toward the sentence.

The Indonesian driver was also sentenced to one year in jail.

Indonesia has some of the toughest anti-drugs laws in the world. It resumed executions in 2013 after a hiatus of several years.

President Joko Widodo, who took office in October, has been a vocal supporter of the death penalty for drug traffickers.

- with ABC

Photo caption: Langan told court he's had drug and alcohol addiction in the past. Photo: AAP

An Australian man in Bali has been jailed for a year after he was caught smoking marijuana on a beach.

[Z]

This is somewhat common isn't it?  Narcotics cops working with locals to bust foreigners.  They are apparently looking for bribes once they catch you.

I have heard stories from people travelling in this region of it happening often.  Just a lesson to be careful, or to at least have the money for a get out of jail free card.

[Chip (OP)]

I'm sure that many walk right into these.

you'd be nuts to have anything to do with drugs in that country.

that must be common knowledge by now.

Their rules ... but, oh man, that's so heavy duty !
 

[Narkotikon]

From what very little I know, that country has very draconian laws regarding drugs.

Isn't that the country that does caneing? 

On a semi-related topic, HGTV had an episode of House Hunters International on last night.  An American college student was studying in Indonesia and was looking for housing.  Some of those houses there have very backwards amenities. 

Kitchens with only one or two very small burners, and the burners looked like portable camping burners.  Bathrooms with only a sink, toilet, and an area to bucket-wash.  Bucket-washing is common there the show said. 

It was odd b/c the house was really nice otherwise.  Large, western-style rooms, Indonesian / Polynesian style verandahs and gardens.  It wasn't a small shack by any means. 

If you could afford to live in a house like that, why in the hell wouldn't you put in a decent kitchen and a shower, or a bathtub at least?  Rent there was really cheap too.  Her budget was only $100 US dollars per month for rent.  The house I'm talking about was only going for $65 per month. 

[candy]

One year for a joint does seem very harsh.
I imagine that there are people who may not be aware of the laws when they travel to a different country.
Smoking a joint may not seem like a crime to those not aware of the laws.
I would just do my year and not return. Appealing your sentence could take longer than your time incarcerated.

A tip to those traveling to a different country; do your research before you take off or take edibles with you.