Bali prosecutors have rejected claims their indictment for a New Zealander charged with drug smuggling should be annulled before his trial begins.
Lawyers for Antony Glenn deMalmanche have found various faults with the indictment for the 52-year-old, who was arrested on arrival in Bali on December 1 with 1.7kg of crystal meth.
They say he wasn't told his rights to a lawyer via a translator, as is the law, making the basis of the prosecution case invalid.
de Malmanche could face the death penalty for smuggling the drugs, which he says he was unaware he was carrying.
Prosecutor Sawiyah on Tuesday argued in Denpasar Court that the trial must go on.
"It would be more appropriate if this is brought to a hearing for proving if it's wrong or right," he said.
"The investigator had gathered preliminary evidence and that action was in accordance with procedure. "With that, we can't say that this indictment must be annulled."
Chief judge Cening Budiana retired to consider both sides and was due to make a decision on whether the trial would proceed next Tuesday.
The defence for de Malmanche claims the pensioner was lured into couriering drugs after being trapped in an international online romance scam.
Share
