French drug smuggler Felix Dorfin gets death penalty in shock ruling by Indonesian judge
- Felix Dorfin, 35, was arrested in September carrying a suitcase filled with about 3kg of drugs, including ecstasy and amphetamines
- The sentence meted out by the presiding judge was far harsher than the 20-year jail term recommended by Indonesian prosecutors
Dorfin, 35, was arrested last September carrying a suitcase filled with more than 3kg of drugs, including ecstasy and amphetamines, at the airport in Lombok, a holiday island next to Bali where foreigners are routinely arrested on drugs charges.
“After finding Felix Dorfin legally and convincingly guilty of importing narcotics … (he) is sentenced to the death penalty,” presiding judge Isnurul Syamsul Arif said.
“The defendant’s actions could potentially do damage to the younger generation,” Arif said.
Indonesia has some of the world’s strictest drug laws – including death by firing squad for some drug traffickers – and it has executed foreigners in the past.
While prosecutors had not asked for the death penalty, Indonesian courts have been known to go beyond their demands.
French fugitive Felix Dorfin recaptured by Indonesian police after escaping jail
The Frenchman made headlines in January when he escaped from a police detention centre and spent nearly two weeks on the run before he was captured.
It was not clear if the jailbreak played any role in Monday’s stiffer-than-expected sentence.
He said little as he walked past reporters to a holding cell after the sentencing.
“Dorfin was shocked,” said the Frenchman’s lawyer Deny Nur Indra. “He didn’t expect this at all because prosecutors only asked for 20 years.”
Police officer accused of taking US$1,000 bribe to help French drug suspect escape
The lawyer said he would appeal against the sentence, describing his client as a “victim” who did not know the exact contents of what he was carrying.
“If he had known, he wouldn’t have brought it here,” Indra said.
British grandmother’s life on Bali’s death row: ‘if you want to shoot me, shoot me’
The case sparked diplomatic outrage, with then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying Australians were “revolted” by the ruling.
Last year, eight Taiwanese drug smugglers were sentenced to death by an Indonesian court after being caught with around 1 tonne of crystal methamphetamine.