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Australian man handed shock sentence over Bali drug bust

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A South Australian man on trial for drug possession in Bali has avoided a jail sentence.

Father-of-two Troy Smith, 49, was arrested after a member of the public told police Smith had received a suspicious package from Australia.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: SA man escapes jail time after being found with drugs in Bali.

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Police raided his Kuta hotel room on April 30, finding 3.15g of methamphetamine.

They arrested and charged Smith, originally from Port Lincoln, with a number of drug offences.

Police had also initially charged Smith with drug trafficking, an offence which carries a possible death sentence.

Troy Smith has avoided a prison sentence after being found with drugs in Bali.Troy Smith has avoided a prison sentence after being found with drugs in Bali.
Troy Smith has avoided a prison sentence after being found with drugs in Bali. Credit: Firdia Lisnawati/AP

This was later reduced to the lesser charge of drug use.

Smith faced Denpasar District Court on Thursday afternoon, where he was found guilty of drug possession.

The judge concluded the drugs were for Smith’s personal use, agreeing with Smith’s defence lawyers who had argued the Australian was an addict.

Smith had earlier confessed to using drugs since 2020 to stop drinking alcohol.

He escaped a prison term, instead being ordered to spend four months in an Indonesian rehabilitation facility.

A $700,000 fine was also waived by the judge.

The father of two addressed the media outside court, thanking his family and his lawyer.

“To my beautiful mum and sister, sorry and thank you, and to Tracey, whose support and love I lean on every single day,” he said.

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