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ABC News
ABC News
National
By Indonesia correspondent Adam Harvey

Australian man formally named as suspect in Bali drugs case

An Australian man caught at Bali's airport with marijuana has been formally named as a suspect by Indonesian police.

It is the first stage in a charging process that normally results in prosecution and trial.

Joshua James Baker, 32, was allegedly carrying 28 grams of marijuana mixed with tobacco when he arrived in Bali last week.

He escaped police custody and was caught 24 hours later.

Bali police spokesman Hengky Widjaja said Baker had been declared a suspect but police were now considering whether he should be held in hospital or kept in police detention.

Mr Baker's lawyer said her client was mentally ill and should be deported to receive treatment in Australia.

Maya Arsanti said Mr Baker required hospitalisation and rehabilitation.

"If he does not consume his medicine and he will be very aggressive and psychotic," Ms Arsanti said.

Possession of small amounts of drugs can result in long jail terms in Indonesia, although the maximum term of 15 years' jail is rarely applied.

Foreigners caught with marijuana for personal use typically serve about one year in prison.

Earlier this year Perth man Giuseppe Serafino was sentenced to seven months in jail for possessing eight grams of hashish.

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