An Australian man has been formally charged in Bali with multiple drug offences, including an importation charge that carries the death penalty under Indonesian law.
Forty-three-year-old Lamar Ahchee, the son of a former Queensland police officer, was arrested on May 22 after customs officers in Bali allegedly discovered 1.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside two gold Lindt chocolate boxes. He was arraigned at Denpasar District Court on Thursday on four counts: importation, trafficking, possession and abuse of drugs for personal use.
Prosecutors say each chocolate box contained 54 individually wrapped packets of cocaine, with about 8.3 grams in each packet, and that the illicit consignment had been sent from the United Kingdom. Police allege Ahchee offered nearly 50 million Indonesian rupiah (about AU$4,700) to receive and distribute the drugs, and estimated the street value at roughly AU$1.1 million.
Ahchee did not lodge an objection to the indictment during the hearing; his lawyers noted that, under Indonesian procedure, an objection primarily concerns the manner of arrest rather than the substance of the charges. He was brought before reporters wearing a white shirt, black trousers, a baseball cap and an orange detention jacket and said, "I have no comment at this moment."
His legal team in Indonesia said they were confident he would avoid the death penalty. "Me and my team are specialised in these narcotics cases," attorney Ida Bagus Sakti told reporters, adding that they would seek the lightest possible sentence and that he was confident of a favorable outcome based on experience. The trial is scheduled to continue on Sept. 18, when witnesses are expected to be heard.
Ahchee's family travelled to Bali after the arrest. In June, his sister, Stephanie Ahchee, who flew in from Cairns with their mother, told media in Denpasar the family was grateful for the "professionalism and impartiality" of Indonesian authorities and for the "fair and respectful treatment he has received from law enforcement and legal officials throughout this process."
Ahchee, who grew up in Cairns and later lived in Sydney's eastern suburbs, had worked in hospitality and nightlife venues before moving to Bali in 2019. Publicly available professional profiles and press reports show he worked as a VIP manager at Sydney venues including Marquee and Casablanca, was director of marketing and events for Sydney Seadeck in 2015, and later held management roles at Omnia Beach Club and a Canggu restaurant, Brick Lane Bali, stepping down from the latter in November.
Indonesian law imposes severe penalties for drug offences, including capital punishment for certain importation convictions. Authorities in Indonesia have regularly defended the use of strict sentences as part of their judiciary's approach to combating drug trafficking.
The case will proceed through the Denpasar court system, with the next hearing set for Sept. 18. Prosecutors and defence counsel are expected to present witnesses and further evidence at that session.