Despite claims that a New Zealander accused of drug smuggling had his rights violated when he was arrested, a Bali court has reportedly decided to proceed with the trial.
Antony de Malmanche, 52, was arrested in December 2014 with 1.7 kilograms of meth in his backpack at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. His attorneys have said that upon his arrest he was not told of his right to a lawyer before he was interrogated. The kiwi’s defense team argued in court that this was reason to toss out his indictment.
However, chief judge Cening Budiana said on Tuesday that the trial should proceed, reports the AAP.
“The judges think that on December 1-4, 2014, which is when the investigation started, the investigator had conveyed to the defendant his rights to be accompanied by lawyer,” the judge said, as quoted by AAP.
“The investigator even appointed a lawyer, Nyoman Sudiantara, but the defendant said he wasn’t prepared for a lawyer yet.
“The defendant finally appointed a lawyer of his own on December 16, 2014.”
De Malmanche’s trial will pick back up again today, reportedly with prosecution witnesses from the customs office.
The kiwi’s defense team maintains his innocence, saying that he was unaware he had been carrying the drugs and had been duped by a woman he had been dating online, going by the name of “Jessie.” De Malmanche was meant to meet Jessie in China, but says he instead was rerouted to Bali by a man claiming to be Jessie’s assistant and given a package to take—which he alleges contained the drugs.
He could get the death penalty if found guilty of drug trafficking.
Photo by AFP
