De Malmanche may face the death penalty

Accused drug trafficker Antony de Malmanche.

Bali prosecutors have rejected claims their indictment for a New Zealander charged with drug smuggling should be annulled before his trial begins.

Lawyers for Antony de Malmanche have found various faults with the indictment for the 52-year-old, who was arrested on arrival in Bali on December 1 with 1.7kg of crystal meth.

They say he wasn't told his rights to a lawyer via a translator, as is the law, making the basis of the prosecution case invalid.

De Malmanche could face the death penalty for smuggling the drugs, which he says he was unaware he was carrying.

However, prosecutors say the trial must go on.

The chief judge has retired to consider both sides and would make a decision on whether the trial would proceed next Tuesday.