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Denpasar.
Australia asked Indonesia to take into account the juvenile status of an
Australian boy being questioned for alleged drug possession on the resort
island of Bali, police said on Sunday.
Australian
ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty visited Bali from Jakarta on Saturday to
provide moral support to the 14-year-old, who was arrested last Tuesday with
6.9 grams of marijuana, Bali police spokesman Hariadi told AFP.
“The
ambassador also appreciated police investigations so far and hoped that the
legal process will consider the boy’s young age,” he said.
“Investigations
are still ongoing. Indonesia will adhere to laws applicable, including those
related to children,” he added.
Police said
the teen was arrested as he returned to his hotel from a massage in the Kuta
tourist area and had admitted to paying Rp 250,000 ($29) to a man, who
reportedly told him he had not eaten for a day and needed money.
The
Australian government has made the boy’s release “top priority.”
Moriarty
told reporters on Saturday that the boy, who is in police custody, and his
family were under “a great deal of stress.”
“My focus
in the days ahead is to provide maximum support to the boy and his family so he
can return to Australia as quickly as possible,” he said.
“He’s a
robust young man but he is under incredible stress.”
Children
face the same courts as adults in Indonesia, although juvenile justice laws
offer some concessions to minors.
The boy’s
lawyer, Muhammad Rifan, said drug possession carries up to 12 years in jail but
the sentence is halved for child offenders.
Children
are often jailed with adults, although Kerobokan prison, where the boy would
spend his term, has a separate children’s cell.
Several
Australians are housed in Kerobokan, including a man arrested last month in
possession of methamphetamine, and several convicted drug traffickers — two on
death row and six serving life sentences.
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