British mastermind of Bali cocaine smuggling ring caged for six years
(01-29 16:46)
Briton Julian Ponder, accused of involvement in a global drugs trafficking ring based on the Indonesian resort island of Bali was sentenced to six years in jail for possession of cocaine.
The man maintained a luxurious lifestyle in Bali and was known to be an ex-antique restorer.
The sentence was lighter than the seven years' jail recommended by prosecutors.
Just days before his verdict, the cocksure Briton Julian Ponder, 43, told the Mail on Sunday that he was going to be all right, noting that he will not face death by firing squad. His partner Rachell Dougall, 39, was sentenced earlier in Bali for a year.
Ponder is linked with Lindsay Sandiford, a British grandmother who was condemned to death last week for her part in what authorities described as “huge international syndicate.’’
Presiding judge Gunawan Tri Budiono told Bali's Denpasar court that Ponder was guilty of possessing 23.04 grams of cocaine worth US$6,000.
Ponder was arrested after receiving a package from Sandiford in a police sting operation mounted after she was caught with five kilos of cocaine hidden in her suitcase on a flight from Bangkok to Bali in May, AFP reports.
He was initially also accused of trafficking over the US$2.4 million drugs haul, but earlier this month prosecutors dropped the smuggling charge, a serious offense punishable by death in Indonesia.
Under Indonesian law, penalty for possession ranges from at least five years in prison to life sentence.
Two other Britons in connection with the drug trafficking ring received light sentences last month.
The sentence was lighter than the seven years' jail recommended by prosecutors.
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