NZer has Bali drug smuggling jail term slashed

Angus McCaskill. Photo / Supplied

A New-Zealand born businessman who was jailed by a Bali court for seven years on drug charges has had his sentenced slashed to one year on appeal.

Malbourne-based finance broker Angus McCaskill, 57, was arrested last June at a supermarket in Tuban, near Bali's international airport, with five plastic pouches containing 3.84 grams of cocaine.

He was jailed for seven years in January this year, and had been threatened with 12 years behind bars.

However, last week he won his appeal to the Indonesian High Court which was delivered in Bali's Denpasar District Court on Thursday, Fairfax Media reported.

Mr McCaskill grew up on the East Coast.

At the time of his arrest McCaskill said he had made a "silly mistake'.

A close relative said he was doing well in prison.

"We have sent him money to allow him to have his own room, fresh food and a cellphone. If you have support it makes a lot easier to live in the prison."

She said McCaskill had wrongly been portrayed as a drug dealer at the time of his arrest.

"It was totally out of character, in fact it was laughable. It couldn't be further from the truth.

"From what we heard he was totally plastered in a nightclub with friends and was offered some cocaine. He told the guy to go away three times but on the fourth time he bought some."

- NZPA