Australian businessman nabbed for cocaine possession
Kuta Police officers followed a 57-year-old Australian in Bali for one month before arresting him Wednesday for allegedly possessing 3.58 grams of cocaine.
Kuta Police chief Adj. Comr. Wimboko said Sunday that the suspect, Angus McCaskill, was arrested on Jl. Kediri near one of the island’s most prominent tourist resorts.
“After receiving a tip from local residents, we watched the suspect for about a month,” Wimboko said.
“We arrested the suspect when he was about to enter Pepito Supermarket on Jl. Kediri,” he said.
“We found bags of white powder in his wallet that we suspect is cocaine,” he added.
The drugs were allegedly kept in six plastic bags with a total weight of 3.58 grams. Each package weighed between 0.65 to 0.79 grams.
Police also confiscated the suspect’s wallet and a leather bag as evidence.
The police also searched a villa in Seminyak, where the suspect lived, as well as another villa in Uma Alas, but found no drugs at either location.
The Australian, who resides in Melbourne, is now in detention at Kuta police station.
Police allege that the suspect bought the drugs from a local Kuta man for Rp 8 million (US$880).
Wimboko said the police were investigating whether the suspect was involved in a syndicate.
“We are still investigating the source of the drugs, as well as whether the suspect intended to use the drugs himself or distribute the drugs to others,” he said.
The suspect, who works as a business broker, said that this was the first time he bought narcotics in Indonesia, although he has visited Bali seven times since 1993.
“He has been staying here for the last two months and said he used the drugs the night before he was arrested,” Wimboko added.
The suspect can be charged under Article 112 of the Law on Narcotics, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 12 years and a fine of Rp 8 billion for those convicted of drug-related crimes.
Last week, the Badung Police arrested three foreign students of a local tourism school for marijuana possession.
Police identified the suspects as Vrielink Leon, 21, from the Netherlands, Mischa Karsten, 21, from Germany and Patrick Leland Bird, 19, from the US.
The three were arrested in individual incidents. Data from the Bali Police shows that 295 people — including 11 foreign nationals — were arrested for drug-related offenses in the first half of 2010.
— JP/Desy Nurhayati
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