A British man arrested in Bali for possessing cannabis oil says he faces up to 15 years in prison and is living a 'terrible nightmare'. Pip Holmes, 45, from Cornwall, was detained on 3 December after receiving a small amount of THC oil in the post from a friend in Thailand, which he used to treat arthritis pain.
Holmes was among five people arrested by Indonesian police in Denpasar on suspicion of drug smuggling. Indonesia has strict drug laws, with dozens of convicted smugglers on death row, including British citizens Gareth Cashmore and Lindsay Sandiford.
Police said the bottles weighed 31g, equating to about 3g of cannabis oil. Holmes admitted possession, stating: 'I am guilty under Indonesian law of possession of narcotics, there's no denying that. Even though medicinal THC is something so widely accepted elsewhere and it was such a small amount, I foolishly crossed the line in a very strict country.'
After six days in a police cell, Holmes was moved to a rehabilitation facility after his lawyers argued he was a user, not a trafficker. He said: 'I still can't believe that I'm here and I feel sick with fear. As it stands, I don't know if I'm about to spend a few months in rehabilitation or if I'm about to face five to 15 years in Kerobokan – one of the toughest prisons on earth.'
A fundraising page has been set up to raise $100,000 (£79,000) for legal representation. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'Our staff are assisting a British man following his arrest in Bali and are in contact with his family, lawyer and the Indonesian authorities.'
