John McLeod, a former Australian policeman, centre, has taken on the case of a New Zealand man Thomas Michael Daly, left, arrested in Bali after he was found with nearly 5000 prescription pills.
John McLeod, a former Australian policeman, centre, has taken on the case of a New Zealand man Thomas Michael Daly, left, arrested in Bali after he was found with nearly 5000 prescription pills.
An intellectually disabled New Zealand man with the intellect of a 10-year-old has been arrested in Bali after attempting to bring in nearly 5000 tablets of prescription medications.
Thomas Michael Daly, 38, who is a furniture removal worker from Whangarei flew in from Sydney.
He was stopped at Indonesian customswhen security spotted a huge number of tablets during routine luggage X-rays last Friday, Daily Telegraph Australia reports.
John McLeod, a former Australian policeman, centre, has taken on the case of a New Zealand man Thomas Michael Daly, left, arrested in Bali after he was found with nearly 5000 prescription pills.
Police later found 4950 prescription pills separated into individual zip-locked bags.
Indonesian police have said the almost 3kg drug haul is the biggest seizure in the island's history.
Australia security consultant John McLeod, who took on Daly's case pro-bono, said the Kiwi suffers from schizophrenia and has the intellectual ability of a 10-year-old child.
"He has no comprehension of the trouble he is in," McLeod said.
He also has diabetes and has suffered kidney failure.
As required under Indonesian law, Daly had a doctor's certificate for the year's supply of 14 different medicines in his possession, that he needs to treat his conditions.
Despite that, he is still being held under the direction of police who are concerned over the massive volume of what are considered controlled substances, with illegal possession carrying a maximum penalty of 12 years behind bars.
The Kiwi planned a nine-month trip in Bali, Thailand and Vietnam and planned to buy a campervan for travelling, despite only having NZ$3000.
After undergoing health checks at the Bali police hospital on Sunday, Daly appeared to faint. He was also worried, confused and also suffering withdrawals from not being able to access some medications, McLeod told Nine News.
As required under Indonesian law, Daly had a doctor's certificate for the year's supply of 14 different medicines in his possession which he needs to treat his conditions.
McLeod and local lawyer Edward Firdaus Pangkahila said they were in the process of presenting extra documentation to police in an effort to free Daly from Bali and return him to New Zealand.
"Polda (police) has been fantastic and sympathetic to our cause. We're trying all that we can to have him released as soon as possible," McLeod he told Daily Telegraph Australia.
McLeod questioned why New Zealand pharmacists would dispense such a high quantity of medications given the countries that Daly was planning to visit.
"I have read the letters that show that he is aware that he has to fill and carry his prescriptions with him through four different countries. In either of the countries, this would have landed him in a cell. For a pharmacist to fill those script really makes you have to question their actions. Tom is a statistic of the system," McLeod said.
