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| Briton 'faces up to 15 years' in Bali jail over cannabis oil | Briton 'faces up to 15 years' in Bali jail over cannabis oil |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British man says he could face up to 15 years in an Indonesian prison after being found with cannabis oil which he says he needed for medical reasons. | A British man says he could face up to 15 years in an Indonesian prison after being found with cannabis oil which he says he needed for medical reasons. |
| Pip Holmes, from Cornwall, was arrested for drug smuggling when he went to collect a package containing the oil. | Pip Holmes, from Cornwall, was arrested for drug smuggling when he went to collect a package containing the oil. |
| The 45-year-old artist says he asked a friend to send it to him while he was living in Bali to help his arthritis. | The 45-year-old artist says he asked a friend to send it to him while he was living in Bali to help his arthritis. |
| Indonesia has very strict anti-drugs laws and frequently arrests foreigners on drug-related charges. | Indonesia has very strict anti-drugs laws and frequently arrests foreigners on drug-related charges. |
| Mr Holmes says he was aware of the penalties and his actions were "foolish and dumb". | Mr Holmes says he was aware of the penalties and his actions were "foolish and dumb". |
| He was detained on 3 December after going to pick up the package, sent from Thailand, which contained essential oil bottles with cannabis oil inside. | He was detained on 3 December after going to pick up the package, sent from Thailand, which contained essential oil bottles with cannabis oil inside. |
| After spending six days in a police cell, Mr Holmes was transferred to a police hospital rehabilitation facility as his lawyers argued he was a drug user - after he failed a drugs test - rather than a trafficker. | After spending six days in a police cell, Mr Holmes was transferred to a police hospital rehabilitation facility as his lawyers argued he was a drug user - after he failed a drugs test - rather than a trafficker. |
| However, he is still facing a drug trafficking charge and was paraded in front of the cameras last week for what he calls a "very surreal and bizarre" news conference. | However, he is still facing a drug trafficking charge and was paraded in front of the cameras last week for what he calls a "very surreal and bizarre" news conference. |
| He sat alongside four other men accused of drug smuggling, which can carry the death penalty in Indonesia. | He sat alongside four other men accused of drug smuggling, which can carry the death penalty in Indonesia. |
| Despite reports that Mr Holmes could be facing that punishment, he says the small quantity of drugs found on him means that is not the case. | Despite reports that Mr Holmes could be facing that punishment, he says the small quantity of drugs found on him means that is not the case. |
| Speaking from the rehabilitation centre, where he is locked in a room and guarded by two men but has access to his phone, he told the BBC the press conference was "really harrowing". | Speaking from the rehabilitation centre, where he is locked in a room and guarded by two men but has access to his phone, he told the BBC the press conference was "really harrowing". |
| He said he doesn't feel like he is a criminal drug trafficker, but the Indonesian press are painting a picture of him along those lines. | He said he doesn't feel like he is a criminal drug trafficker, but the Indonesian press are painting a picture of him along those lines. |
| "I just wanted to stand up and say I'm really not in this category, but the law is very different here and it's very harsh. | "I just wanted to stand up and say I'm really not in this category, but the law is very different here and it's very harsh. |
| "It feels like a great injustice, but I'm not in the UK, I'm in Bali, so it's my own fault." | "It feels like a great injustice, but I'm not in the UK, I'm in Bali, so it's my own fault." |
| In the UK medicinal cannabis products can be legally prescribed to some patients after rules were relaxed earlier this year - although access is very limited. | In the UK medicinal cannabis products can be legally prescribed to some patients after rules were relaxed earlier this year - although access is very limited. |
| The father of two, whose 11-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter live in the UK with his ex-wife, has had arthritis for eight years and says it was caused by years of practising Thai boxing. | The father of two, whose 11-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter live in the UK with his ex-wife, has had arthritis for eight years and says it was caused by years of practising Thai boxing. |
| He says: "Marijuana makes a considerable difference to the pain - it's not a leisure activity for me." | He says: "Marijuana makes a considerable difference to the pain - it's not a leisure activity for me." |
| Mr Holmes is no stranger to travelling - he spent time in Canada earlier this year, while he has a tattoo studio in Thailand - and he arrived in Bali at the end of October planning to spend a couple of months surfing and painting. | Mr Holmes is no stranger to travelling - he spent time in Canada earlier this year, while he has a tattoo studio in Thailand - and he arrived in Bali at the end of October planning to spend a couple of months surfing and painting. |
| "I knew what I was getting into," he says. "I knew there were very strict laws but I chose to come here anyway because the surf is the best in the world." | "I knew what I was getting into," he says. "I knew there were very strict laws but I chose to come here anyway because the surf is the best in the world." |
| Indonesian law does not recognise medical marijuana use. | Indonesian law does not recognise medical marijuana use. |
| He says he is facing a sentence of between five to 15 years at Kerobokan prison in Bali - a place Mr Holmes calls "horrendous" and "terrifying". The BBC has been unable to confirm with the Indonesian authorities what sentence he might face. | He says he is facing a sentence of between five to 15 years at Kerobokan prison in Bali - a place Mr Holmes calls "horrendous" and "terrifying". The BBC has been unable to confirm with the Indonesian authorities what sentence he might face. |
| However at his next court date, expected to be in January, Mr Holmes is hoping to be classed as a marijuana addict and be eligible for a rehabilitation sentence. | However at his next court date, expected to be in January, Mr Holmes is hoping to be classed as a marijuana addict and be eligible for a rehabilitation sentence. |
| He says although the police reported that he was found with 31g of medicinal THC oil, that weight included the bottles (28g). | He says although the police reported that he was found with 31g of medicinal THC oil, that weight included the bottles (28g). |
| Anything smaller than 5g, he says, would make him eligible for a sentence of around 12 months in a rehabilitation facility instead. | Anything smaller than 5g, he says, would make him eligible for a sentence of around 12 months in a rehabilitation facility instead. |
| He says he needs to raise money to fight his case. | |
| He says: "I have no idea what is going to happen to me next. | He says: "I have no idea what is going to happen to me next. |
| "I'm afraid because I don't know how long it's going to be before I can hug my children again. They are the only thing keeping me going right now." | "I'm afraid because I don't know how long it's going to be before I can hug my children again. They are the only thing keeping me going right now." |
| A Foreign Office statement 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." | A Foreign Office statement 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." |