Latest news with #PuridasRobinson
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Drug accused breaks down in front of cameras in Bali
Australian Puridas Robinson tried to shield his face from the cameras. Credit: MADE NAGI / EPA An Australian man arrested on suspicion of drug possession has broken down as he was paraded before the cameras in Bali. Puridas Robinson was pictured after police allegedly found a stash of marijuana at his Denpasar villa. If convicted of drug possession Mr Robinson, from Queensland, could face up to 12 years in jail. The teary 40-year-old covered his face as he was carted into a press conference alongside 20 other tourists accused of trafficking drugs into Indonesia. His arrest comes a few weeks after fellow Australian Lamar Ahchee was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle $1 million of cocaine into Bali. Police allege 1.8kg of cocaine was concealed inside two Gold Lindt chocolate boxes, with each box containing 54 individually wrapped packets of the drug. Mr Ahchee, who has been living in Bali since 2017, could face the death sentence if convicted. Puridas Robinson. Credit: Firdia Lisnawati / AP
ABC News
5 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Australian man arrested for drug possession in Bali
An Australian man has been arrested in Bali on suspicion of drug possession, Indonesian authorities have said. The Bali Narcotics Board detailed the arrest of 40-year-old Puridas Robinson in connection with drug possession. Officials said the arrest was linked to an earlier case involving an Indian national, who told police that Mr Robinson had allegedly ordered hashish and marijuana from him. Authorities then brought the Indian man along to assist in identifying Mr Robinson. Mr Robinson, however, denied placing any order. Police raided his residence, where they say they found 20 grams of hashish stored in the fridge and a digital scale. They said Mr Robinson told investigators he was a user, not a dealer, and said he had allegedly purchased 120 grams of hashish from a seller on Instagram for $300. They said he claimed only 20 grams remained at the time of the raid. At the start of the press conference, BNN officials said they were considering applying narcotics laws that carry the death penalty for drug trafficking. However, by the end of the briefing, they clarified that Mr Robinson was currently only being investigated for possession, pending further evidence. "We express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all elements of society, media, traditional leaders, religious leaders and the younger generation to continue to play an active role in maintaining Bali as a safe, healthy and productive area so that it is free from the threat of drugs," said the National Narcotics Board during a press conference. Police in the Indonesian province said Mr Robinson was known to have been in and out of Bali since 1988, police told the media.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Bombshell update after Australian was arrested in Bali on drug trafficking charges as cops put him on parade in orange prison clothes
A second Australian arrested in Bali over alleged drug offences in as many weeks will avoid trafficking charges that could have seen him sentenced to death. Puridas Robinson, 40, from Queensland, was paraded in front of local media by the Bali Branch National Narcotic Agency (BNN) on Thursday following police allegedly finding a stash of marijuana at his West Denpasar villa. He was among 21 people arrested by the agency during April and May in a crackdown on illicit drugs on the popular holiday island. Aside from Robinson, there were four other foreigners in the group including two from Kazakhstan, one from the US and an Indian man, Harsh Vardhan Nowlakha, 31, who allegedly tipped detectives off about Robinson. The head of the drugs eradication unit at BNN, Senior Commander Made Sinar Subawa, told Daily Mail Australia Robinson will only be charged with drug possession, which carries a maximum 12 years prison term if he is found guilty, and that trafficking charges would be dropped. Robinson was arrested following the arrest of Nowlakha at Bali Airport last Thursday when he arrived from Los Angeles allegedly carrying 600g of marijuana. Nowlakha allegedly told investigators that he brought the drugs for Robinson and police followed him to Robinson's address where they swooped and searched the property. Robinson denied that he ordered the drugs. 'We could not find enough evidence to prove that the drugs seized from Nowlakha was ordered by Robinson. So we will only charged him with article 111 that carries a maximum 12 years prison term,' Made Sinar said. 'Therefore, the investigator decided to drop article 114 that was planned to be used.' But he confirmed Nowlakha was was still likely to be charged with the more serious article 113 and 114 of the drug law regarding importing narcotics. In Indonesia, marijuana is a Class 1 narcotic along with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and MDMA. While investigators could not prove Robinson ordered the drugs that Nowlakha allegedly brought into the country, they did allegedly find 20 grams of marijuana in Robinson's house. Robinson's arrest is just days after a fellow Queenslander was arrested for alleged cocaine trafficking in a separate drug bust. Lamar Ahchee, 43, was arrested in Canggu, a coastal village on the south-west coast of Bali, on May 22 accused of trafficking 1.8kg of cocaine worth $1.1m onto the tourist island. Police allege the Cairns man, who is the son of former Queensland senior constable Les Ahchee, collected two parcels of cocaine concealed in chocolate boxes , each containing 54 individual packets of the drug. Ahchee has denied being a drug dealer and claimed that he was 'framed'. Ahchee, a confessed drug addict, allegedly tested positive for drugs while in custody. His lawyer Edward Pangkahila said Ahchee denied any involvement in drug trafficking. 'He's telling me that honestly, he doesn't know what was inside,'Mr Pangkahila said.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Second Aussie man accused of smuggling drugs into Bali is identified - as new details emerge
An Australian man accused of smuggling drugs into Bali and potentially faces life behind bars has been identified. Queensland man Puridas Robinson, 40, was arrested at a villa in West Denpasar last Thursday following an alleged tip-off from a co-accused accomplice. Authorities arrested Indian national Harsh Nowlahka, 31, earlier in the day after he was allegedly found in possession of 600g of marijuana at Denpasar International Airport. Bali National Narcotic Agency conducted further inquiries and has alleged that it was Robinson who ordered the narcotics. Nowlahka allegedly told authorities he was supposed to deliver the drugs to Robinson's home, sources told Daily Telegraph. Authorities followed Nowlahka to Robinson's villa, where officers allegedly uncovered a 104g stash of marijuana during a search of the property. Robinson hasn't yet formally charged and has denied the allegations against him. He remains in custody. He and Nowlakha were among five foreigners arrested as part of last week's investigation. BNN spokesperson Made Dwi Saputra was tight-tipped regarding the allegations against Robinson, who is accused of drug trafficking and drug possession. Mr Saputra told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday night that more details would be revealed on Thursday. 'We will hold (a) press conference of some cases, including the Australian, tomorrow morning at 10am,' he said. Robinson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is found guilty of drug trafficking. A drug possession conviction attracts a jail term of up to 12 years. In Indonesia, marijuana is a Class 1 narcotic along with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and MDMA. Robinson's arrest came days after a fellow Queenslander was arrested for alleged cocaine trafficking. Lamar Ahchee, 43, was arrested in Canggu, a coastal village on the south-west coast of Bali, on May 22 accused of trafficking 1.8kg of cocaine worth $1.1m onto the tourist sland. Police allege the Cairns man, who is the son of former Queensland senior constable Les Ahchee, collected two parcels of cocaine concealed in chocolate boxes, each containing 54 individual packets of the drug. Ahchee has denied being a drug dealer and claimed that he was 'framed'. Ahchee, a confessed drug addict, allegedly tested positive for drugs while in custody. His lawyer Edward Pangkahila said Ahchee denied any involvement in drug trafficking. 'He's telling me that honestly, he doesn't know what was inside,'Mr Pangkahila said. 'We're still looking for that somebody who tell him to take this package. 'The police have to find this guy.' Ahchee (pictured on Monday) is accused of trying to smuggle cocaine onto the island Ahchee has not been charged but remained in custody since his arrest. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
