Life is Healthy

Wrong kind of publicity: Drug smuggling and money laundering suspect Timothy Geoffrey Lee shields his face from reporters’ cameras after being questioned at the Bali Prosecutor’s Office in Denpasar, on Friday. He faces extradition to his native Australia, where he has warrants outstanding. JP/Stanny Angga

An Australian national suspected of committing drug trafficking and money laundering faces extradition at the Denpasar District Court this week.

Timothy Geoffrey Lee, a fugitive of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested by the Bali Police last month, will stand trial on Tuesday or Thursday in relation to his extradition, which has been requested by the Australian government to the Indonesian government.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Timothy on Friday underwent verification of the suspect’s dossier handed from the police to the District Prosecutors’ Office.

Head of execution and examination at the prosecutors’ office, Ida Bagus Made Argita Chandra, confirmed that the extradition would be ruled by the Denpasar District Court.

“The attorney general will then submit the court ruling to the President for approval. After the process is completed, the Indonesian government can extradite the suspect,” Chandra said.

Timothy’s lawyer Erwin Siregar said that his client would only be tried here concerning his extradition, while his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering would be taken to the Australian court. “We expect that the extradition may be completed by April, so that my client’s case can immediately continue with the legal process in his country,” Erwin said.

The lawyer said extradition usually takes between six months to a year, but he would continue to monitor the extradition to ensure it was completed earlier. He said he had also requested for voluntary deportation for his client since the process required simpler procedures than extradition, but voluntary deportation could only be carried out if the Australian Government had annulled the extradition request.

“We have asked the Australian government to withdraw the extradition request and we’re waiting for its reply.”

The Bali Police began searching for Timothy after receiving a Red Notice from the AFP on November last year and managed to arrest the 44-year-old fugitive on Jan. 9 in Kuta district. The AFP suspected Timothy for committing drug trafficking and dealing with proceeds of the crime. The AFP noted in its letter to the Bali Police that Lee left Melbourne for Bali around July 2006.

The federal police seized 1 kilogram of cocaine, 44 kilograms of MDMA tablets and powder, 45 liters of MDMA oil and equipment used for drug making.