Tauranga lawyer meets with Bali drug accused

Tauranga lawyer Craig tuck.

A New Zealand man alleged to have smuggled drugs into Bali is living in a prison cell with 27 others, limited food and no form of bed, his Tauranga lawyer says.

Tauranga-based lawyer Craig Tuck said he had met with Antony de Malmanche at the Denpasar Police station in Bali during the last two days.

He is being held in a cell with 27 other prisoners with very limited food and amenities. He is essentially locked down 24 hours a day in a cell with no mattress or pillow and has had no sleep for the last two nights due to ongoing and historical pain issues, Mr Tuck said.

De Malmanche, 52, was arrested at Bali's international airport in last month.

The Wanganui beneficiary had traveled to Hong Kong to meet his internet girlfriend,
"Jessie", and then went on to Bali, allegedly with 1.7kg of methamphetamine in his
backpack.

Methamphetamine is in the most serious drug class in Indonesia and anyone convicted
of trafficking it faces the death penalty, which is execution by firing squad.

Mr Tuck said he met with police investigators and the head of the Narcotics Investigation Unit as well as Indonesian defense counsel.

The meetings with police confirmed that investigations were continuing in Africa, Hong Kong, China and Indonesia.

"It is abundantly clear that Tony has been caught up in transnational highly organised criminal group and through fraud and deception has been exploited," Mr Tuck said.

"This is a complex case with many tentacles. I may still be weeks away from going to the prosecutor for a decision on how this will proceed," he said.

"On my preliminary view it appears that Mr de Malmanche is not a trafficker - but has been trafficked.

"Mr de Malmanche, who had never been overseas before and has personal characteristics which make him a vulnerable citizen, now finds himself in a situation which is literally life and death."

Mr Tuck said Mr de Malmanche missed his home and family. He was thankful for the support he received on his first experience of travelling overseas.