French National Facing Jail for Smuggling Marijuana

Denpasar (Antara) - A French national is facing a sentence of minimally five years in jail and a fine of Rp1 billion for smuggling hashish. The prosecutor in a court session on the smuggling case in the Denpasar district court here on Monday had demanded five years in jail for the defendant, Vincent Roger Petrone (44). In the session led by chief judge Parulian Saragih, the prosecutor, I Putu Gede Astawa, said that the defendant had been proven illegally importing 59.7 grams of hashish to Indonesia. Upon hearing the demand, the defendant said he would give his defense in the next session on June 17. The defendant was caught upon arriving at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport on January 20 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A Malaysian national meanwhile is also facing a jail term for smuggling 372 grams of heroin to Bali. The prosecutor in the district court on Denpasar has demanded 17 years in jail for Sargunan M Suppiah (37), the Malaysian national, for having smuggled 372 grams of heroin to the island. Suppiah would present his defense in the next session next week. The defendant was also caught upon arrival at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport from Kuala Lumpur early this year. He hid the illegal stuff in his underwear. (*)