Teen could face firing squad after cocaine allegedly found in luggage at Bali Airport
A 19-year-old woman could face execution by firing squad after she was arrested at Bali Airport.
Prosecutors have demanded execution by firing squad for a 19-year-old woman on trial for allegedly smuggling drugs into Bali.
Brazilian teen Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias has been in custody for the last three months charged with international drug trafficking after she was allegedly caught with 3kg of cocaine in her luggage in January.
Global press agency Newsflash reported prosecutors demanded the maximum penalty last week.
If convicted of trafficking drugs in Indonesia, she could face execution by firing squad or life imprisonment.
Prosecutors allege she was clearly working with a drug gang. But her lawyer, Davi Lira da Silva, claimed that Ms Farias, who sold lingerie and perfume for a living, was tricked by people she trusted.
Mr da Silva claimed the teen was tricked into co-operating after the gang who hired her told her of temples in Bali where they pray for the sick.
Ms Farias’ mother had recently suffered a stroke and her lawyers said she was going to seek Buddhist prayers for a cure.
They also claimed that the gang had promised to pay for surf lessons for the young woman once she arrived in the country.
The Brazilian’s arrest made international headlines at the end of January after the case was confirmed to local media by Bali Police Chief Inspector Gen Putu Jayan Danu Putra in Denpasar on January 27.
The Bali Sun reported that the 19-year-old had arrived at Bali Airport at around 3am on January 1 on a Qatar Airways flight. She had flown from Brazil to Bali via Qatar.
“The drug smuggling attempt was thwarted by the Bali airport customs. We really appreciate what customs have done,” Chief Inspector Putra told reporters at the January 27 press conference, according to the publication.
The case was adjourned for the sentences to be announced later this month.
– with Newsflash
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