The sister of an Australian man facing 10 years in Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison has said her brother is mentally ill.
Joshua James Baker, 33, from Mount Isa in Queensland, was caught with 28 grams of marijuana mixed with tobacco and 37 Diazepam pills in October 2017.
Mr Baker was arrested at Nghurah Rai airport and is on trial charged with importing the drugs into Indonesia.
The sister of an Australian man (pictured) facing 10 years in Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison has said her brother is mentally ill
Joshua James Baker (pictured), 33, from Mount Isa in Queensland, was caught with 28 grams of marijuana mixed with tobacco and 37 Diazepam pills in October 2017
Mr Baker (pictured) was arrested at Nghurah Rai airport and is on trial charged with importing the drugs into Indonesia
His sister, who declined to be named, said Mr Baker had the drugs to treat a mental illness he has had since he was eight years, ABC News reported.
‘We hope the judges and the prosecutor can see and acknowledge the severity of Joshua’s disease,’ she said.
‘His case is just unique and unprecedented and there has not been any cases like this. He’s such an insane person.’
Mr Baker’s lawyer Maya Arsanthi has said her client is not fit to stand trial, and demanded he be released to a mental hospital.
His sister, who declined to be named, said Mr Baker (pictured) had the drugs to treat a mental illness he has had since he was eight years
Mr Baker’s lawyer Maya Arsanthi has said her client is not fit to stand trial, and demanded he be released to a mental hospital (pictured is marijuana allegedly possessed by Mr Baker)
Mr Baker is dependent on the Diazepam (pictured), an anti-anxiety drug, as he has severe depression and is bipolar, his lawyer said
Mr Baker is dependent on the Diazepam, an anti-anxiety drug, as he has severe depression and is bipolar, she said.
If convicted Mr Baker could face ten to 12 years inside a Bali jail, but a sentence of one or two years is more likely.
The Mount Isa man evaded Balinese police for 10 hours by allegedly escaping through a toilet window while they watched television after he was detained.
He then took a taxi to a fake home address to throw off Indonesian authorities but was tracked down by police and has been in Kerobokan jail since then.
If convicted Mr Baker (pictured) could face ten to 12 years inside a Bali jail, but a sentence of one or two years is more likely