A former war correspondent on trial for drugs in Bali says he had always refused to give an Australian man 'hashish' but eventually agreed when the latter complained of back pain.
David Fox, a former Reuters bureau chief from Jakarta, and Australian man Giuseppe Serafino, 48, are on trial in Denpasar Court for drug possession, transportation and use after drugs were found in their Bali homes in October last year.
Serafino was arrested during a morning raid on his house following a tip-off to police that the Australian had been using 'sabu' or ice.
When they raided the place they found hashish and a 'bong', police officer Komang Budi Utama said on Thursday.
Serafino, police said, was used to "lure" Fox, who was arrested later that day in Sanur.
"I never gave drugs to Guiseppe. He asked five to six times before, but I always said no," Fox told the court through an interpreter.
"Finally, I gave it to him because Guiseppe called and said he had lumbar pain."
Both men are citing stress and health issues and are pushing to only face the lesser charge of drug use.
This carries a maximum sentence of four years, as opposed to transportation which could see them in jail for up to 12 years.
Prosecutors have told the court that Fox began using the drug 30 years ago after suffering trauma, having seen "thousands of people killed" during his time as a war correspondent.
Serafino's lawyer Desi Widyantari, meanwhile, said her Australian client had also turned to drugs as a stress reliever after receiving treatment for a number of illnesses.
Both matters will return to court next week.
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