Bali boy’s father upset by media treatment

Updated October 25, 2011 16:24:27


A 14-year-old boy facing drugs charges sits with Balinese officials

The boy’s father is upset over his son’s treatment by the media.

The father of a 14-year-old Australian boy facing drugs charges in Bali is said to be upset at his treatment by the media.

The teenager had to be pushed through a crowd of reporters today to meet prosecutors in Denpasar.

The boy’s lawyer says he is frightened after being handed over to prosecutors.

He was arrested earlier this month after allegedly buying a small amount of marijuana on a Bali beach.

“Is like nightmare for him like that,” his lawyer Mohammad Rifan said after the teenager arrived at the prosecutor’s office.

“He really nervous following the next process. This is like something new for him and he not understand about the system over here.”

The prosecutor says the boy and all the files relating to the case were being taken to his office for the formal handover of custody.

The shift from the police to the prosecutor moves the trial date closer, and while the boy’s lawyer would like the hearing to start this week, that is considered unlikely.

But officials have said they want to move quickly because the case involves a minor.

The teenager will be allowed to stay in his new location – an immigration facility – while prosecutors handle the case.

Yesterday, Mr Rifan said his client was doing much better now that he had been moved to the immigration detention centre.

Mr Rifan said the teen was happy he avoided spending time at Kerobokan prison and had been playing soccer with other children at the detention centre.

The teenager, who was holidaying with his parents and staying in the resort area of Legian, was with a friend when he was arrested.

It is alleged he bought the marijuana for the equivalent of $25 after being approached by a dealer while on his way to get a massage in Kuta.

Police then detained him outside a supermarket after he left the place where he received the massage.

Among the evidence is a test saying the teenager’s blood and urine have tested positive to marijuana.

Tags:

drug-offences,
bali,
nsw

First posted October 25, 2011 16:13:42

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