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Indonesia: Boy could spend Christmas in Indo jail

Tom Allard

Canberra Times

Friday 11 Nov 2011

The Australian teenager arrested for possession of cannabis could spend Christmas in detention in Indonesia after prosecutors demanded he serve a three month term.

The demand, determined in Jakarta, is hugely disappointing for the 14 year old and his counsel, who had been optimistic the boy would be released at the conclusion of his trial.

It comes after controversy about reports, since denied, that the youth's family had secured a deal worth up to $300,000 to tell their story to Channel Nine.

The reports provoked a storm of criticism and was seen to undermine the boy's chances of swift release, even though the judge and prosecutors said it would not influence their decision.

Judge Amser Simanjuntak told reporters of the demand as he left the court this morning.

"Three months," he told reporters.

He will deliver his verdict in two weeks and may ignore the demand and release the boy.

But he can also impose a sentence higher than requested by prosecutors

Either way, the boy will remain in detention when prime minister Julia Gillard visits Bali next week for the East Asia summit.

The Australian government has lobbied hard to get the boy released as soon as possible, with Ms Gillard speaking personally with the youth soon after his release.

Arrested outside a massage parlour on October 4 with 3.6 grams of cannabis, the schoolboy has admitted he purchased the drugs but argued he is an addict who should be returned immediately to Australia for rehabilitation.

He has tearfully vowed to the court that he will stop his marijuana smoking.

He could have faced a maximum six years in prison.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/boy-could-spend-christmas-in-indo-jail/2355226.aspx

 

 

 

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