Former British journalist, 54, and Australian entrepreneur, 46, 'face life in Bali jail after being found in possession of cannabis'
- Briton David Matthew, 54, and Australian Giuseppe Seratino, 46 arrested
- Both being held in custody in Bali over alleged possession of cannabis
- Comes after drugs said to have been found at a house in the town of Sanur
A retired British journalist and an Australian man have been arrested on the holiday island of Bali for allegedly possessing cannabis.
Police detained 54-year-old Briton David Matthew and 46-year-old Australian Giuseppe Seratino after drugs were found at a house in the seaside suburb of Sanur.
Both men were being held in jail pending further investigations.
Denpasar police narcotics chief Gede Ganefo told Fairfax Media in Indonesia that Mr Matthew was a former journalist and Mr Seratino was an entrepreneur.
A retired British journalist (left) and an Australian man (right) have been arrested on the holiday island of Bali for allegedly possessing cannabis
The Australian was detained on Saturday afternoon after more than five grams of hashish - cannabis resin - was allegedly found in a suitcase at his house in Sanur.
Possession of more than five grams of cannabis can bring a maximum penalty of life in prison, with a minimum of five years in jail.
The Australian, who has reportedly been living in Bali for some five years, is said to have told police that he obtained the hashish from the Briton.
The British man, who police said was born in Shrewsbury, was later arrested at a bar called On On, where he was allegedly found in possession of hashish wrapped inside aluminium foil.
Police accompanied him back to his own house, also in Sanur, where they are said to have found more hashish inside a boxing glove.
Questioned as to where it had come from, the Briton said he had bought it from another man, but police are understood to have been unable to identity that person.
Indonesia regards possession and trafficking of drugs seriously and has imposed death sentences on prisoners convicted of dealing with hard drugs such as cocaine, ice and heroin. Bali is shown above in a file picture
The British and the Australian consulates have been informed of the arrests of the two men.
The have been named as suspects under article 112 of Indonesian law for possession category one narcotics (not a plant).
Indonesia regards possession and trafficking of drugs seriously and has imposed death sentences on prisoners convicted of dealing with hard drugs such as cocaine, ice and heroin.
Earlier this year Australian Nicholas Langan was released from prison after serving a year merely for sharing a marijuana joint on a beach.
There has also been the infamous case of Australian woman Shapelle Corby, who has been released after serving nine years of a 20 years sentence for importing 4.2 kilos of cannabis into Bali.
Lingering on death row is British grandmother Lindsay Sandfiord, originally from Redcar, North Yorkshire, after being convicted of attempting to smuggle cocaine into Bali.
She is still hoping for a reprieve.
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