Australian arrested in Bali claims he used drugs for medical reasons

SBS World News Radio: An Australian man in police custody in Bali for possessing hashish has told police he'd used the drug as cancer therapy.

Australian arrested in Bali claims he used drugs for medical reasonsAustralian arrested in Bali claims he used drugs for medical reasons

Australian arrested in Bali claims he used drugs for medical reasons. Source: AAP

Australian Giuseppe Serafino and Briton David Fox were paraded before a Bali police media conference.

Their excruciating embarrassment was hidden behind balaclavas and orange jumpsuits.

48-year-old Mr Serafino, a local cafe owner, was arrested on Saturday.

Alongside him at the media conference is Mr Fox, a former Indonesian bureau chief with the Reuters newsagency.

They stood in the background in the packed room as the Deputy Chief of Denpasar Police, Nyoman Artana displayed the police evidence - a black suitcase and a boxing glove allegedly used to hide the drugs.

"In the room of suspect GS, we found 7.32 grams of hashish. After further investigation, the suspect confessed to having bought the drug from a second suspect, FDM.

Following a tip off, police had pressed Serafino to arrange to meet Fox at a nearby bar where the Briton was arrested.

They found hashish - the resin from cannabis - on him and more at his home.

And authorities, following the alleged supply of hashish and ice in the popular seaside resort of Sanur, also netted two locals.

Serafino was observed receiving a text message from an army officer, offering to sell him ice.

That man, in turn, said his source was a police officer.

All four men are now in custody.

Serafino has told police he'd used hashish for eight years for pain relief after being diagnosed with cancer.

Police say Fox, aged 54, had used hashish for 30 years to relieve stress from covering international conflicts such as in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.

Deputy Chief Artana says they'll be charged with possessing more than five grams of drugs and are facing hefty jail terms.

"They could face a minimum of five years, and a maximum of 20 years in jail."

Serafino is just the latest Australian to face an Indonesian drugs charge.

Last year, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - members of the so-called Bali Nine - were executed for smuggling heroin.

 

 


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