BBC News, South-East
Danz photographThe trial of three British nationals held in Indonesia for drug trafficking has started.
Jon Collyer, 38, and Lisa Stocker, 39, were arrested at Bali International Airport in February after being taken with 994 g of cocaine, according to the Balinese authorities.
The couple appeared in court alongside Phineas Float, 31, who was to receive the packages and was arrested a few days later.
The three accused, who are from Hastings and St Leonards to East Sussex, could incur the death penalty – the heaviest punishment for having participated in a drug transaction under Indonesian law.
It is alleged that Mr. Collyer and Mme Stocker were captured with 17 cocaine packages, with a value of around £ 300,000.
An agency journalist France-Press at the Bali court said that a verdict was expected only in a later date.
The British Embassy of Jakarta did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
Indonesia lends severe sanctions for smuggling drugs and has already executed foreigners, but has maintained a temporary judgment of death sentence since 2017.
The administration of the Indonesian President Prabowo Sui -Buanto has moved in recent months to repatriate several high -level detainees, all convicted of drug offenses, in their country of origin.
The Frenchman Serge Atlaoui returned to France in February after Jakarta and Paris concluded an agreement to repatriate him for “humanitarian grounds” because he was sick.
In December, Indonesia also took Mary Jane Veloso from the death corridor and returned it to the Philippines.
He also sent the five remaining members of the “Bali Nine” drug ring, which was serving heavy prison sentences in Australia.
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services, 96 foreigners were in the death corridor, all drug charges, before the release of Veloso.
Speaking exclusively at the BBC South East in February, Sheiny Pangkahila, the lawyer representing Mr. Collyer, Ms. Stoler and Mr. Float, said, if they are condemned, they Everyone could face between 15 and 20 years in an Indonesian prison.
The trial continues.
