A Wanganui man could go on trial at any time for smuggling drugs into Bali.
An indictment has been served on a grandfather Antony de Malmanche, 52, who is being held in a Bali prison on charges for smuggling 1.7kg of methamphetamine on to the island.
He was arrested at the international airport in Denpasar on December 1. He had travelled to Hong Kong to meet his internet girlfriend, 'Jessie', before flying to Bali.
The Wanganui beneficiary has been in custody since, and if found guilty of trafficking the drug, he will be sentenced to death - likely by firing squad.
His lawyer Craig Tuck told the Law Society's LawPoints bulletin that de Malmanche had been served with an indictment earlier this week, and his trial could begin at any time.
"We can get notice at any stage by text or phone that the trial will start," the Tauranga-based lawyer said.
"We have a comprehensive analysis of the drug cartel, which is a global operation traversing six countries and involving many well-resourced people," Mr Tuck said.
He will argue that de Malmanche was a "trafficked mule" or "sacrificial mule".
"Tony de Malmanche has been invested in by the cartel - they funded all sorts of things. It's one of those situations where the factual matrix is ideally suited, in my view, to this defence," he said.
"Without knowledge of the methamphetamine he shouldn't be convicted."
More details of events leading up to de Malmanche's arrest were also revealed, including his time in China trying to meet 'Jessie' before he travelled to Bali.
De Malmanche, who had a history of mental illness and suffered a head injury, as well as back and neck injuries, while working as a tree feller, had developed a Christian faith in recent years and was trying to meet someone to share his life with.
He developed an online dating relationship with 'Jessie', who claimed to be a successful businesswoman and paid for his passport to travel to Hong Kong so they could meet. It was the first time de Malmanche, who claimed an Invalids Benefit, had travelled overseas.
After three days in Hong Kong, Jessie's assistant 'Larry' asked de Malmanche to buy a bus ticket to Guangzhou - China's third largest city, and 120km away - where Jesse will meet him in a few days.
He meets Larry in Guangzhou, and after two days he tells de Malmanche, Jessie is having visa problems and will now meet him in Bali.
They return to Hong Kong where Larry takes him to a market to buy a bag for Jessie, which Larry puts into de Malmanche's backpack.
He then flies to Bali, where he is stopped at the airport and detained by Customs for drug smuggling. NZME.