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Australian man Robert Paul McJannett on Bali drug charges

Robert Paul McJannett is taken away by an Indonesian policeman after being arrested for drugs at a Bali airport. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro Source: The Australian
By Cindy Wockner and Komang Suriadi in Bali and Janet Fife-Yeomans in Sydney - From: The Daily Telegraph - December 30, 2009

AN Australian man faces a lengthy stint in an Indonesian jail after allegedly trying to smuggle just 2g of marijuana hidden in a sock into Bali.

Robert Paul McJannett was arrested early yesterday at Bali's airport and is now in custody at the holiday island's police headquarters, being interrogated about the drugs found in his luggage.

The marijuana was allegedly in a plastic ziplock bag hidden in a sock along with sachets of coffee. Coffee is used to disguise the smell of drugs.

McJannett may be sent to Kerobokan jail, where Schapelle Corby, who was arrested in similar circumstances, and the heroin gang dubbed the Bali Nine, are held.

As he was transferred in handcuffs from the airport Customs office to the police station yesterday, McJannett, 48, asked why the "paparazzi" were photographing him.

McJannett, a Perth crane operator who this year challenged for leadership of the West Australian branch of the CFMEU but didn't win, arrived in Bali with his 21-year-old son on Virgin flight 4172 about 11.30pm on Monday.

The pair had planned a five-day holiday in the popular resort island.

But when Customs officers searched McJannett's suitcase they allegedly found the 2g of marijuana.

Bagus Endro, the head of Customs investigations at Ngurah Rai airport, said an X-ray of McJannett's suitcase had raised suspicions because the tin foil had shown up.

Mr Endro said that when McJannett was initially approached he had refused to open the small bag containing the drugs.

He allegedly later claimed a business partner may have wanted to trap him.

The Customs official said McJannett had initially refused a urine test and had made a failed attempt to throw the drug into a drain in the detention room.

Under Indonesia's harsh drug laws, McJannett is likely to face charges of possession and importing drugs, which carry a sentence of up to 10 years behind bars.

He is the latest in a long line of Australians who have found themselves on the wrong side of Indonesia's drug regime after being arrested on Bali.

Former Gold Coast beauty therapy student Schapelle Corby is serving a 20-year sentence after being arrested with 4.1kg of marijuana in her luggage as she came into Bali.

Three members of the Bali Nine are currently on death row for their roles in an 8.2kg heroin haul.

Other Australian tourists arrested with small amounts of drugs while holidaying in Bali have served terms of up to six months for drug possession.

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