Australian Robert McJannett |
ADAM GARTRELL - May 28, 2010
An Australian man has been released from a Bali prison after serving five months for drug offences.
Robert Paul McJannett was arrested at Denpasar airport on December 28 with 1.7 grams of marijuana in his luggage.
The 48-year-old Perth man initially claimed he was the victim of a set-up but later admitted the drugs were his.
The Denpasar District Court earlier this month sentenced him to five months' jail, including time already served, for drug use.
Kerobokan Prison official Made Suardana on Friday said McJannett had been released at about 10am local time.
"Immigration officers picked him up," Suardana said.
McJannett, a prominent trade unionist and former political candidate, travelled to Bali for a new years' holiday with his son.
Authorities initially charged him with importing a group one narcotic - an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' jail - but later downgraded the charges.
During his trial, the court heard McJannett had been using drugs for more than 30 years because it relieved stress and helped him with insomnia.
© 2010 AAP
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