Bali court sentences Australian boy, 14, over drug charge

Teenager sentenced to two months in detention for buying drugs, but he should be free in just over a week 

guardian.co.uk, Associated Press in Bali, Friday 25 November 2011

Indonesian guards escort the 14-year-old Australian boy after his trial
at Denpasar district court. Photograph: Firdia Lisnawati/AP

An Australian teenager has been sentenced to two months in detention for buying drugs while on holiday with his family in Bali.

Judge Amzer Simanjuntak told the packed Denpasar district court that when taking into account time already served, the 14-year-old would be freed in just over a week and immediately deported.

The boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, sat sobbing, his head bowed down, as his father patted him on the back while the judge spoke.

Though he could have faced up to 12 years under Indonesia's tough drug laws, the panel of three judges said it decided to be lenient because he admitted to buying 3.6g (0.13oz) of marijuana from a man in front of a supermarket, and repeatedly expressed remorse.

The teenager has been in an immigration detention centre since his arrest on 4 October. He has promised to enter a drug rehabilitation programme if allowed to return to his home in Morrisset Park, north of Sydney.

He said he had been struggling for some time with his addiction.

Dozens of Australians have been jailed or put on death row for drug possession in Indonesia.