Japanese teen gets 6 months for marijuana use in Bali

he is lucky. hopefully this will teach him a lesson.

Lucky bastard!!! He will be out to smoke a doobie when he returns home BUT NEVER in Bali. That's ok...I hope this taught him a lesson.

Stupid law, but "when in Rome, ..." Victimless crime, until the accused becomes the victim.

He could have gotten the death penalty or some ridiculous over the top charge. 6 months sucks, but I think its a lot less than the US or even Japan would have given him.

I'm sure the international exposure of these draconian laws helped his case (it usually does).

"Judge Gunawan Tri Budiono said in Denpasar district court that although the boy “spoiled the image of Bali as tourist destination, he showed leniency because the boy is young and bought the drugs for personal use."

What can you say about that comment? Just a complete joke in all respects.

still 6 months too much

Young lad is probably not recognising it right now but all in all he came out of this well.

the boy “spoiled the image of Bali as tourist destination,”

I guess he hasnt seen the open sewers, the local thieves, the drug dealers, the Islamist terrorists, the burnt out hole where the Sari Club once lay, the filthy hotels....

Six months will be probaby be commuted slightly over time. I'd say the kid's lucky, and this is just enough time to TRULY teach him a lesson without going overboard (like several to 12 years). I also hope this is a good opportunity to raise awareness about drugs and that despite the reality that some might not be that harmful, the penalty for using them in many places can be severe.

Isn't the dealer, rather than the boy, spoiling the image of Bali? However, he is lucky with 6 months. People need to think when they are in foreign lands. I think young people should watch Midnight Express before travelling abroad.

Bali has though drugs laws , Deal with it, He must be grateful that he got such a lenient sentence, next time go to Amsterdam boy!

good! reminds me of the idiot who went to Singapore and spray painted in the mids 90s and got caned. U must live by the laws of the country u are in....

Go west young man!

Is this the same case where they said the boy was actually LIVING in Bali ? Maybe it's a different case but I seem to remember reading first that he lived there, then that he was on vacation there, then again that he was living there and in the latter case, he should have been fully aware of the laws. Anyway, (and I know I'll be thumbed down...) I'm very much against the use of drugs, except for medical purposes. Better for him to learn now than later on...

@mirai - If you think that a 17 year-old would get sentenced to more than 6 months in prison over possession of 2.6 grams (less than a 1/10 of an ounce), then you are obviously unfamiliar with U.S. laws.

Judge Gunawan Tri Budiono said the boy “spoiled the image of Bali as tourist destination”. Nice try but pull the other one

OnniyamaOct. 19, 2012 - 09:05AM JST

Isn't the dealer, rather than the boy, spoiling the image of Bali? However, he is lucky with 6 months. People need to think when they are in foreign lands. I think young people should watch Midnight Express before travelling abroad.

The dealer, when caught, will likely face the death sentence. Indonesia like many Muslim nations considers drug use unacceptable on a religious level, and any violations of the religious codes are dealt with harshly. The kid is lucky Indonesia is still fairly moderate due to Christian and other religious influences, as well as the fact Bali is mostly Hindu and give out more lenient sentences than in the "mainland".

FightingVikingOct. 19, 2012 - 09:49AM JST

Is this the same case where they said the boy was actually LIVING in Bali ?

For most countries it doesn't matter. The law is the law for everyone. Japan does have laws that pertain only to travelers/non-citizens, but it too applies drug laws to everyone (though they prefer early deportation where possible, much cheaper that way)

Wondering the same thing as FightingViking. Didn't this boy go to International school in Bali or something? Or was that the 14y/o boy?

thank god!!!! so happy!!!! xD. i was worried for this kid. its a $%^& waste of time jailing these people. weed is good. police should arrest and jail rapist, murders etc -_-

@basroil

I think you missed my point... I was not mentioning his "living there" or "on vacation" in order to point out "he should have known better" (which was someone else's comment anyway), I was just curious to know which is TRUE ? Does he live there ? Or is he on vacation ? Obviously, either way, the law is the law.

He could have gotten the death penalty or some ridiculous over the top charge. 6 months sucks, but I think its a lot less than the US or even Japan would have given him.

U.S. he would have gotten off with a warning and maybe a 1 or 2 day suspension from school

Japan he would have gotten a warning, a whole lot of police questioning and freed for being under 20.

why do drugs??

Although I think 6 months for minor possession is overkill, this article really should read, "Japanese teen arrested due to having insufficient funds to pay bribe."

The judge talks about the image of Bali -- which I love and visit often -- but when it comes to crime, the cops there are every bit as dirty as in most SE Asian countries. I've been shaken down before there driving around and the cops are, sadly, more interested in getting slipped 2000yen worth of Rupiahs than they are about taking a stupid 17-year-old to the slammer.

LH10: I'm all for legalizing marijuana, but the fact remains it is NOT legal in Indonesia, and possession and dealing carry VERY stiff penalties. Opinion doesn't come into play. The boy's lucky, and that's all there is to it.

DudeDeuceOct. 19, 2012 - 12:18PM JST

U.S. he would have gotten off with a warning and maybe a 1 or 2 day suspension from school

Not really. I've personally seen 6mo probation as the standard, with young dealers usually deported in addition to longer probation (i.e. if they come back to the US they get sent to jail then deported again).

FightingVikingOct. 19, 2012 - 12:07PM JST

I was just curious to know which is TRUE ? Does he live there ? Or is he on vacation ?

Likely lived there as reported earlier, though both are not mutually exclusive. He could have gone to the beach with his family for the weekend even though he lives there, in which case both would be true right?

I bet he was set up by someone that was trying to get a lesser sentence himself.

I am all for legalizing it, taxing it and keeping it available for anyone to use. Tobacco is far more poisonous than marihuana, it has been proven.

ResurfacedOct. 19, 2012 - 02:22PM JST

I am all for legalizing it, taxing it and keeping it available for anyone to use. Tobacco is far more poisonous than marihuana, it has been proven.

More or less the same actually. Only difference is you smoke less, and often times filtered which removes tar/other gunk.

I'll never understand why people want to legalise drugs. Can't you get a high doing something else other than smoking leaves and getting off your face? You know... have an interest in something? Oh yeah, get a hobby.

Exactly what I said the sentence would be......2 to 6 months.........Here's another prediction, At Christmas time his sentence will be reduced and he will be released. Whattayawannabet?

I don't smoke it because my job requires my full attention but the world is always complaining of fuel, jobs, money etc. Well this might be the answer to everyone since taxation brings money, it burns clean so clean energy is the way of the future. What I meant from money in the growing it will create jobs and that is what will bring the unemployment rates to a good drop. What is there not to like?

Leanred a lesson? I wonder what lesson.

Lucky boy! Wonder if he will pull this stunt here in Japan.

@megosaa

why not?

Is this the same case where they said the boy was actually LIVING in Bali ?

It's the same case, he and his mother LIVE in Indonesia ( Jakarta I believe) and they were vacationing in Bali.

Will being deported force his mother to quit her job?

@techall

Thank you for clearing that up ! I was getting confused by "living there/on vacation there" - which were used alternately.

"admitted buying 2.6 grams of marijuana"

Cripes, that's enough to make maybe 5 joints.

"could have received 12 years ( in prison )"

Cripes!

Just say 'No'!

Well, gambatte... I hope they can arrange early release for good behavior when he's done half of the penalty, well in 2 or 3 weeks.

Will being deported force his mother to quit her job?

It's her choice. If she wants to be with him, she'd have to relocate... but well, she is doing average as an educator. Maybe the boy could benefit from a year with his Dad, grand-parents or a boarding-school in Japan.

@onniyama

I think young people should watch Midnight Express before travelling abroad.

Agreed. Good movie. In that movie, he was actively trying to smuggle kilos of hash. Another good movie based on a true story is Return to Paradise which took place in Indonesia. The tourist was busted for drugs he and his fiends bought for personal use. Tragic story.

I was offered drugs in Bali by a friendly sort and said, no thanks. I've heard that natives will sell it to you and then turn you in for a reward or out of hatred of foreigners.