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A 30-year-old model from the U.K. has been handed a five-year prison term in Indonesia after being caught with 85.15 grams of marijuana, baggies and an electronic scale, reports The Sun.
Jed Texas, born Jed Higgins, was vacationing in Bali when authorities raided his villa in Canggu, a resort destination, after receiving a tip from the public.
Police allegedly caught Texas trying to flush the pot as they conducted the raid. Appearing in court via video link, Texas said he knew cannabis was illegal in Indonesia, but wasn’t aware of the severity of the country’s drug laws.
He said he had been consuming cannabis to treat his anxiety, particularly after being stuck in the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I couldn’t go home, so I bought a lot of marijuana to relieve my anxiety,” Texas said.
“I admit that my using marijuana in Indonesia is against the law. I am very sorry. I knew it was illegal, but I didn’t think the sentence would be so high like this. I use it to treat psychological disorders,” he added.
Addressing Texas, Chief Judge Gede Putra Astawa said, “Texas is guilty of committing a criminal act by possessing narcotics type one,” and that his actions damaged “the image of Bali as a tourist destination.”
Texas has appealed the sentence. He faced up to 20 years in prison.
The Canada travel advisory page…