Indonesian Police in Bali Arrest Frenchman for Stashing Contraband

DENPASAR, KOMPAS.com – Police in the Indonesian resort island of Bali has arrested a French citizen for possession of drugs, with intent to peddle the narcotics during an operation on Monday, 23 December.

“We nabbed 30-year old Rayan Jawad Henri Bitar in the Badung district, after we received a tip from locals, among them drug peddlers, about an imminent crystal meth deal,” Bali Regional Police chief Inspector General Putu Jayan Danu Putra said to Kompas.com on Wednesday, 23 December.

“[Bitar] did not resist arrest when we caught him. While there were no drugs on his person, we found 5.43 grams of crystal meth at his place, as well as a bong to smoke it.” He added that drugs were not the only contraband that they found in his home.

Also read: Bali Police Arrest 2 Foreigners for Drug Offenses

“We confiscated three firearms, among them a Blade Pistol Stabilizer, a Russian Makarov pistol, and an NAA 22LR revolver, as well as their ammunition," Danu noted.

"While he obviously got the guns illegally, we are trying to determine how he got the guns and what he intended to do with them.”

“We are also trying to determine if [Bitar] used the weapons to terrorize others and carry out any number of crimes, especially as this is the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.”

Also read: Australian Woman Convicted of Killing Indonesian Cop in Bali Released

Bitar is charged with possessing drugs under a 2009 law, and illegal firearms under a 1951 law on gun controls. If found guilty, he faces 4 to 12 years for the former law and fines ranging from Rp. 800 million to 8 billion [$56,542.09 - $565,420.80.]

He also faces 20 years or life behind bars, as well as the death penalty, if he was found guilty of the latter.

(Writer: Imam Rosidin, Bali Contributor | Editor: Teuku Muhammad Valdy Arief)

Source: 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/12/23/17283221/simpan-senjata-api-dan-sabu-seorang-wn-perancis-ditangkap-di-bali?page=all.