Australian facing 10 years jail
From correspondents in Denpasar, Indonesia
April 02, 2008 06:05pm
Article from: AAP
AN Australian man has faced court in Bali after allegedly being caught with a small amount of hashish on the Indonesian resort island.
David Bruce Houston, 38, of Perth, was today formally charged in Denpasar District Court with three offences including drug possession, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
The other two charges are drug use, with a maximum four-year jail term, and being a drug addict who failed to report to police, which carries a punishment of six months' imprisonment.
The court heard police found 2.9g of hashish in Houston's trouser pocket outside his Kuta house on January 12.
He was arrested and searched following a tip-off from a member of the public, Bali police drugs officer Komang Ngurah Sucahyadi told the court.
Indian-born Mr Houston admitted owning the drug, and urine and blood tests later revealed traces of marijuana in his system, the court heard.
Mr Houston is one of a string of Australians in custody over drugs matters in Bali.
Several in recent years have avoided lengthy sentences after satisfying the court they were drug addicts who had not reported themselves to authorities to undergo rehabilitation.
Police have previously said Mr Houston had admitted undergoing rehabilitation in Australia 10 years ago.
Chief Judge I B Butu Madeg adjourned the hearing until April 9.