De Malmanch charges - 'flimsy' says lawyer

Antony de Malmanche, the Kiwi jailed in Bali for allegedly smuggling 1.7kg of meth into Denpasar, with his lawyer Craig Tuck from Tauranga.

Drug trafficking charges against a New Zealand man in Bali are flimsy and should be dropped, his lawyer says.

Prosecutors have asked for 18 years' jail for Antony de Malmanche, who says he was tricked into carrying crystal methamphetamine into Bali in December via an online romance.

His lawyer Chris Harno told the court on Tuesday the charges should be dropped and his client released.

"They haven't provided a CCTV record that would support the customs officers," he said.
"Other witness statements are only in clips, or in other words, the prosecutors only found pieces of evidence that would support her sentence request."

Mr Harno said de Malmanche cleared three x-rays in Hong Kong airport and was denied legal and consular help on his arrest in Bali.

"There was no explanation at all from the prosecutor on why she refused to bring the CCTV [to court]," he said.

"We ask the judges to state all charges against the defendant are unproven officially and convincingly."

The prosecution will respond on Thursday.

- AAP