Aussie man reveals why he was caught with $1.1m cocaine in Bali
An Australian man who is facing almost a decade inside a Bali prison if found guilty of possessing 1.7kg of cocaine has named the man who he claims “deceived” him.
An Australian man who has been charged with possessing $1.1 million of cocaine in Bali has revealed in court the name of the man he claims set him up.
Lamar Ahchee delivered his defence during a Bali court hearing on Tuesday local time, where he said he was “deceived, coerced and manipulated” by Ian Paul Tinsley, a man he claims asked him to collect a package of toys that instead contained cocaine hidden in Lindt wrappers.
Mr Ahchee said Mr Tinsley was a majority shareholder at Brick Lane in Canggu, where he previously worked as the general manager.
“Ian presented himself as a businessman, but behind that facade was a man with a long and disturbing history of criminal activity,” Mr Ahchee told the court.
“Over time, I witnessed his close associations with known criminals, enforcers, and gang members, individuals who operated with impunity and violence.
“Ian himself was known to use intimidation and threats to control those around him. His reputation for aggression and his connections to international criminal networks were not rumours, they were visible, real, and frightening.”
Mr Ahchee said he collected the package out of “fear” for his safety and that of his family, describing it as a “moment of weakness”.
“That decision has become the greatest mistake of my life,” he told the panel of judges.
The 43-year-old businessman originally from Cairns also told the court he was “raised in a family that values law and integrity”, revealing his father served as a police officer for more than 30 years in Australia.
Outside the court, Mr Ahchee’s team told media Mr Tinsley was a 43 year old British man who left Bali just hours after Mr Ahchee was arrested.
“Flight records obtained by investigators indicate that Ian Paul Tinsley departed Bali only hours after Lamar was arrested and taken into custody,” John McLeod said.
“The records further show that Tinsley returned to Bali in July but left again shortly after.”
Police have not charged anyone else in connection with the drugs.
Earlier this month Mr Ahchee said he was “upset” Indonesian prosecutors had recommended he serve nine years in jail.
Prosecutors, who told the court Mr Ahchee should be found guilty of drug possession, also “demanded” he pay a 2bn Rupiah fine ($183,000) or spend an extra six months in prison.
Mr Ahchee has been held at the infamous Kerobokan jail since his arrest in May after police tracked two packages allegedly containing 1.7kg of cocaine from Denpasar to his apartment in Tibubeneng in North Kuta.
The $1.1m cocaine haul was hidden in 206 Lindt chocolate wrappers.
Mr Ahchee has previously described the conditions in Bali’s Kerobokan jail were “challenging”.
“I just want to go home back to Australia,” he said.
Although Mr Ahchee is staring down a long jail stint he has avoided the prospect of the death penalty.
After his arrest, Mr Ahchee threw himself against a police station wall as he became distressed claiming he had been deceived by a friend who asked him to collect the alleged drug-laden packages.
Mr Ahchee worked in Sydney before moving to Bali in 2017.
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Originally published as Aussie man reveals why he was caught with $1.1m cocaine in Bali
