Bali jails boy (14) over drugs

A Bali court sentenced an Australian boy to two months in jail today for possessing a few grams of cannabis, a lighter sentence…

A Bali court sentenced an Australian boy to two months in jail today for possessing a few grams of cannabis, a lighter sentence than sought by prosecutors after Canberra asked for leniency.

The 14-year-old is likely to be released in early December, a prosecutor said, having already served time since his detention in October.

Australia pushed Indonesia for leniency in a case that has sparked controversy given his age, and its foreign minister Kevin Rudd welcomed the court verdict that he said meant the boy and his family would probably be back home by Christmas.

The teenager was on holiday in Bali when he was allegedly found with 3.6 grams of marijuana.

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A lawyer for the boy said his parents would not appeal the court decision to give him a two-month term, which was lighter than the prosecutors' demand for three months.

Indonesia has a maximum penalty for drugs possession of 12 years in jail, and smugglers can face the death sentence.

In past cases Australians have received heavy sentences for attempting to smuggle drugs, a source of tension between the two neighbours.

Reuters