Thread: 7 years for 3.84g of ****!

AN Australian man caught with almost four grams of cocaine in Bali is expected to appeal after being sentenced to seven years in jail.

Angus McCaskill, 57, was charged with possession after he was arrested last June at a supermarket in Tuban, near Bali's international airport, with five plastic pouches containing 3.84g of the drug.

A panel of judges sitting in the Denpasar District Court today upheld the prosecution's request, submitted earlier this month, that McCaskill be sentenced to seven years.

He was also fined RP800 million ($A89,000), or an additional four months' jail.

In sentencing McCaskill, chief judge Putu Suika said the prosecution had "convincingly" proved the charge against the Melbourne man, adding that he had also tarnished Bali's image.

"The defendant's action was against the government's policy of combating drug trafficking," Putu said.

"The defendant's actions caused damage to Bali's image as a tourist destination."

However, McCaskill's lawyer Pande Putu Maya Arsanti described the sentence as too harsh considering the quantity of drugs found in her client's possession.

"We consider this sentence for our client is much too heavy," she said outside the court.

"How come with evidence (that he had) less than five grams, he is to be punished that much? We will go for appeal."

Pande had requested that the possession charged be dropped in favour of one count of using drugs, which carries a maximum term of four years.

He has a number of avenues of appeal open to him.

McCaskill had been facing the prospect of spending 12 years in jail on the possession charge but the prosecution requested a lighter sentence, shaving five years off the maximum, due to his co-operation with authorities since his arrest.

The chief judge said his good behaviour had been considered in determining his sentence



Read more: Australian Angus McCaskill jailed for seven years in Bali | News.com.au

Ouch.

Originally Posted by spicyayam

The maximum sentence is 12 years. The Bali nine whoppealed their sentences got handed back heavier sentences, so maybe it's unwise for him to appeal.

Prosecution appealed one who ended up on death row unfortunatley..

I do agree though, cop it on the chin fly under the radar and hope for a pardon.

Originally Posted by soontobeexpat

Prosecution appealed one who ended up on death row unfortunatley..

I do agree though, cop it on the chin fly under the radar and hope for a pardon.

IMHO, do the crime, do the time. End of story!

Originally Posted by goldminer

IMHO, do the crime, do the time. End of story!

Have to kind of agree with you... However every person imprisoned in Indonesia has the ability to be pardoned or a reduced sentence.

I know in our little home called Australia many people are extremely critical of Indonesian Judicial System, whilst it may be corrupt.. Take out the corruption, is this judicial system really that wrong?

I think its pretty much garunteed that Renae, Andrew, Myuran, Scott, Martin, Andrew, Si Yi, Thanh, Michael, Schapelle, Robert, Angus, Michelle will not reoffend anytime soon. Our reoffending rates are pretty big here, it would be interesting to see there what they are.

I do not agree with the death penalty however heavy numbered sentences that this government give out seem to work.

In the end, if you dont want to become a victim of the legal system its pretty easy to avoid it.

...However every person imprisoned in Indonesia has the ability to be pardoned or a reduced sentence... Take out the corruption, is this judicial system really that wrong?

Are you serious? Do you really believe in flying pigs?

Indonesian "Judicial system"...What's that, exactly? Don't you read any Indonesian newspapers?

Might I humbly suggest, especially as you're going to become a new expat soon, that you get yourself up to speed (no pun intended) with what's going on in this country? Throw away those rose-coloured glasses for a start...

Originally Posted by JohnnyCool

Are you serious? Do you really believe in flying pigs?

Indonesian "Judicial system"...What's that, exactly? Don't you read any Indonesian newspapers?

Might I humbly suggest, especially as you're going to become a new expat soon, that you get yourself up to speed (no pun intended) with what's going on in this country? Throw away those rose-coloured glasses for a start...

Hahahahaha I should totally rephrase that.

My personal opinion when taking out the corruption of the legal process when dealing with drug traffickers Indonesia and many other Asian countries have hit the nail on the head. They are not afraid of huge sentences.