Death penalty a possibility following drugs arrest

Anyone convicted of possession faces four to 12 years of imprisonment and fines of up to $820,000. Photo / Thinkstock

A former Rotorua woman, who has spent most of her adult life living in Sydney, Australia, could face the death penalty if convicted of drugs possession in Bali after her arrest on the Indonesian island last week.

Leeza Tracey Ormsby, 37, is in custody after police raided a villa in the Denpasar suburb of Dalung where she was allegedly found with 159g of methamphetamine.

The head of Denpasar's drug squad alleged she also had MDMA - or ecstasy - and marijuana in her possession.

Ormsby's arrest comes just days after Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby was released on parole after spending nine years in Bali's notorious Kerobokan Prison.

Corby, now 36, was convicted in 2005 of importing 4.2kg of marijuana into Bali.

She was sentenced to 20 years, but had her time reduced.

Under Indonesian law, all of the substances allegedly found on Ormsby are classed as the equivalent of New Zealand's Class A drugs and carry the stiffest penalty.

Anyone convicted of possession faces four to 12 years of imprisonment and fines of up to $820,000.

However, for more than 1kg of "raw" drugs such as marijuana, or more than 5g of "processed drugs", including methamphetamine, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment can be imposed.

If found guilty of drug trafficking, Ormsby could face between five and 15 years jail and fines of more than $1 million. The death penalty may also be imposed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of Ormsby's arrest.

- Additional reporting NZ Herald