Top lawyer takes on Bali case

Tauranga lawyer Craig Tuck will help represent Wanganui beneficiary Antony Glen de Malmanche, who faces the death penalty in Bali after being allegedly caught with methamphetamine. Photo / John Borren

Top Tauranga human rights lawyer Craig Tuck has been appointed to represent Bali drug accused Antony Glen de Malmanche.

De Malmanche, 52, was arrested at Bali's international airport earlier this month.

The Wanganui beneficiary had travelled 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 had been contacted by de Malmanche's family, who believe he was taken advantage of, and was now working with Indonesian lawyers "to get the best possible legal representation available to him".

Mr Tuck is helping lead the case pro bono and will travel to Bali next week to meet de Malmanche. Mr Tuck said he was happy to do the work for free because it involved someone becoming involved in an overwhelming situation.

Mr Tuck said the case crossed judicial restrictions. He had also previously done pro bono work for Indonesian fishermen and belonged to the international Slave Free Seas organisation. The group is the only non-government organisation in the world with a specific focus on ending human trafficking at sea.

Mr Tuck said he had no previous association with de Malmanche or his family and he had been approached by de Malmanche's son.

The family has already raised more than $10,250 via an Antony de Malmanche Legal Fund appeal on a Givealittle webpage.

"Any money that's obtained will be going to Indonesian counsel, not to lawyers at this end."

In Indonesia, legal counsel is broken down into three tiers - the top tier being the best of the best. "We need the top tier who deal with death penalty cases. But they expect to be paid upfront. We're talking money in the nature of US$25,000 [$32,000] [to begin with]."

Mr Tuck said the Indonesian legal costs would likely reach up to $100,000 but they would pay as they go with money the family manages to raise.

De Malmanche has been without legal representation for more than three weeks since his arrest on December 1.

If anyone would like to help de Malmanche's legal fight they can donate here.

Antony Glen de Malmanche

*52-year-old beneficiary from Wanganui.
*Arrested on December 1 at Denpasar's international airport after travelling from Hong Kong.
*Allegedly found with 1.7kg of methamphetamine in his backpack.
*Family claim he has been set up in a honey trap internet dating scam.
*Faces death by firing squad if convicted of drug trafficking.