Jabberwocky
Frumious Bandersnatch
Townsville man accused of smoking a joint of marijuana in Bali pleads for leniency
AUSTRALIAN man Nicholas Langan has delivered a heartfelt apology to Indonesia and pleaded with judges in a Bali court to let him go home.
Facing four years in jail for partially smoking a joint of marijuana at the start of a Bali holiday, Langan, of Townsville, Queensland, told of an addiction to the drug, of his regret at the hurt caused to his family and to Bali and of the valuable lessons he has learned from his own stupidity.
Langan was speaking in Denpasar District Court as part of the defence response to the prosecution’s recommendation that he be jailed for four years.
And he revealed that he had been advised by his own lawyers and others “that the only way for me to get free was to pay money”, referring to widespread corruption in the Indonesian judiciary and police systems.
“Sir I have never considered that this course of action would be appropriate to my family who have no money left to pay but more importantly it would indicate that I have no faith and trust in you Honourable Sirs administering the just law of Indonesia,” Langan told the three judges who will decide his fate.
“I do have faith and belief in you today, I have faith that you and God will allow me to go home today to be with the ones I have hurt the most, my family. Sirs I have paid a penalty for my wrongdoing. I have spent almost five months in detention. I carry the burden that I have shown disrespect to the law, Bali and its kind people but I have learnt now that the first step to rehabilitation is to control my mind and always seek guidance through prayer,” he said.
“I am very sorry and I am appealing to the mercy of your Honours to send me home to Australia. My last five months have been traumatic but I have learned valuable lessons and have become a better person for my suffering. I want to thank police and prison staff. They have treated me humanely and fairly. Sirs, I was wrong, I am sorry, please let me go home.”
Langan began his personal plea by apologising to the court, the people of Bali and his family.
“I did something stupid. What I did by smoking marijuana has bought shame upon myself, my family and shown disrespect to the Indonesian law. Disrespect of Indonesian law and its people was never my intention. What I did was an impulsive and an ill-disciplined act. I never went out looking to buy ganga(marijuana) or to find ganga to use.
He told of coming to Bali on holiday to relax and deal with stress and told of a past problem with marijuana and alcohol addiction but lamented that he had “failed at the first hurdle”.
After the statement the judges asked him about his marijuana history. Langan replied that it stretched back 10 years and that he was trying to treat himself.
Prosecutors surprised many onlookers last week by asking for the maximum sentence of four years under narcotics laws used for drug users.
Langan was initially charged with the most serious charge of drug possession carrying a 12-year maximum but that charge was not found to be proven and was not preferred. In the end the prosecution instead called for him to be convicted on the secondary charge of drug use for himself, under article 127 of Indonesia’s narcotics laws.
The maximum term for that offence is four years and it is not often that prosecutors ask for the maximum term in their sentence demand given that the drug use is generally personal.
In Langan’s case it was a half-smoked joint of marijuana which he shared with the driver from his hotel. Prosecutors have also recommended that the driver, Hanung Pekik Hermantoro, 25, also be jailed for four years.
Hermantoro pleaded for a lenient sentence.
And their lawyer, Nyoman Sayoga, also requested a lenient sentence for both, saying that the section of the narcotics law which allows Judges to order rehabilitation of drug users, should be used.
“The defendant should get treatment in hospital and rehabilitation centre a stipulated in narcotic law, which says that judges can order rehabilitation to drug users,” Mr Sayoga told the court.
“We beg to the judges to oblige the defendant to undergo rehabilitation.”
The case returns to court on June 25.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/t...ads-for-leniency/story-fnh81fz8-1227404632363
Busting someone with half a joint is gonna put a big dent on the drug trade. Charging this guy is more politically motivated then anything. Seriously there are drunks causing more problems in Indonesia then a guy smoking half a spliff. I don't even smoke weed but feel bad for this guy.
AUSTRALIAN man Nicholas Langan has delivered a heartfelt apology to Indonesia and pleaded with judges in a Bali court to let him go home.
Facing four years in jail for partially smoking a joint of marijuana at the start of a Bali holiday, Langan, of Townsville, Queensland, told of an addiction to the drug, of his regret at the hurt caused to his family and to Bali and of the valuable lessons he has learned from his own stupidity.
Langan was speaking in Denpasar District Court as part of the defence response to the prosecution’s recommendation that he be jailed for four years.
And he revealed that he had been advised by his own lawyers and others “that the only way for me to get free was to pay money”, referring to widespread corruption in the Indonesian judiciary and police systems.
“Sir I have never considered that this course of action would be appropriate to my family who have no money left to pay but more importantly it would indicate that I have no faith and trust in you Honourable Sirs administering the just law of Indonesia,” Langan told the three judges who will decide his fate.
“I do have faith and belief in you today, I have faith that you and God will allow me to go home today to be with the ones I have hurt the most, my family. Sirs I have paid a penalty for my wrongdoing. I have spent almost five months in detention. I carry the burden that I have shown disrespect to the law, Bali and its kind people but I have learnt now that the first step to rehabilitation is to control my mind and always seek guidance through prayer,” he said.
“I am very sorry and I am appealing to the mercy of your Honours to send me home to Australia. My last five months have been traumatic but I have learned valuable lessons and have become a better person for my suffering. I want to thank police and prison staff. They have treated me humanely and fairly. Sirs, I was wrong, I am sorry, please let me go home.”
Langan began his personal plea by apologising to the court, the people of Bali and his family.
“I did something stupid. What I did by smoking marijuana has bought shame upon myself, my family and shown disrespect to the Indonesian law. Disrespect of Indonesian law and its people was never my intention. What I did was an impulsive and an ill-disciplined act. I never went out looking to buy ganga(marijuana) or to find ganga to use.
He told of coming to Bali on holiday to relax and deal with stress and told of a past problem with marijuana and alcohol addiction but lamented that he had “failed at the first hurdle”.
After the statement the judges asked him about his marijuana history. Langan replied that it stretched back 10 years and that he was trying to treat himself.
Prosecutors surprised many onlookers last week by asking for the maximum sentence of four years under narcotics laws used for drug users.
Langan was initially charged with the most serious charge of drug possession carrying a 12-year maximum but that charge was not found to be proven and was not preferred. In the end the prosecution instead called for him to be convicted on the secondary charge of drug use for himself, under article 127 of Indonesia’s narcotics laws.
The maximum term for that offence is four years and it is not often that prosecutors ask for the maximum term in their sentence demand given that the drug use is generally personal.
In Langan’s case it was a half-smoked joint of marijuana which he shared with the driver from his hotel. Prosecutors have also recommended that the driver, Hanung Pekik Hermantoro, 25, also be jailed for four years.
Hermantoro pleaded for a lenient sentence.
And their lawyer, Nyoman Sayoga, also requested a lenient sentence for both, saying that the section of the narcotics law which allows Judges to order rehabilitation of drug users, should be used.
“The defendant should get treatment in hospital and rehabilitation centre a stipulated in narcotic law, which says that judges can order rehabilitation to drug users,” Mr Sayoga told the court.
“We beg to the judges to oblige the defendant to undergo rehabilitation.”
The case returns to court on June 25.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/t...ads-for-leniency/story-fnh81fz8-1227404632363
Busting someone with half a joint is gonna put a big dent on the drug trade. Charging this guy is more politically motivated then anything. Seriously there are drunks causing more problems in Indonesia then a guy smoking half a spliff. I don't even smoke weed but feel bad for this guy.
