Defense: Charges against alleged kiwi drug smuggler should be dropped because of bad evidence

A lawyer for the New Zealand man accused of trafficking meth into Bali last December says charges against his client should be dropped and his client should go free.

The evidence is flimsy at best, says lawyer Chris Harno. 

Antony de Malmanche is facing 18 years in prison at the request on prosecutors. De Malmanche claims he was duped by a woman he had been dating online and had no knowledge of the 1.7 kilograms of crystal meth he carried into Bali. 

“They haven’t provided a CCTV record that would support the customs officers,” Harno said, as quoted by AAP.

“Other witness statements are only in clips, or in other words, the prosecutors only found pieces of evidence that would support her sentence request.

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“There was no explanation at all from the prosecutor on why she refused to bring the CCTV (to court),” Harno said.

“We ask the judges to state all charges against the defendant are unproven officially and convincingly.”

Prosecution will get the floor on Thursday. 

Photo: AFP




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