Australian Youth Caught Carrying Marijuana

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Police in Bali have caught a 14-year-old boy from Australia carrying marijuana.

Bali police spokesman Senior Commissioner Hariadi confirmed the arrest here on Friday saying that an intensive investigation was still being done on him in the company of a psychiatrist.

"Yes, it is true (the arrest). And now the person concerned is still being interrogated," he said.

The suspect known by his initials as LM was caught by the police on Tuesday (Sept 4) at around 3pm on Jalan Padma, Legian, Kuta, after he had had a relaxing message on the beach.

The police found 6.9 grams gross or 3.6 grams net of marijuana in his trousers.

To the police the suspect said he had bought the stuff from someone he did not know in the Kuta area.

His parents meanwhile had asked for a psychiatrist and psychologist to accompany their son as he was overcome by  depression after he was put in a detention cell.

M Rifan, the suspect's lawyer t, when visiting the Directorate of Narcotics of the Bali Regional Police Command, said the suspect's family had also asked the police to provide company for their son in view of his young age.

"Today a Penitentiary Agency official came to interview him and check his mental conditions and others as well as infrastructure needed for a child detainee. Hopefully this matter will be settled soon," he said.

Psychiatrist dr Deny Tong had also checked the boy's mental and psychological condition and interviewed him with regard to his arrival in Bali and arrest later.

"The Directorate of Narcotics had to give him priority in line with the law which states that a child caught in connection with narcotics may be accompanied by his/her parents during the investigation and until his/her trial in court," he said.(**)