Australian drug mule gets 8 years in Bali jail

Indonesian prosecutors may appeal the sentence given to an Australian drug mule jailed for attempting to smuggle hashish and methamphetamines into Bali hidden in his stomach.

Edward Myatt was jailed for eight years on Monday in a ruling that shocked prosecutors, who had demanded a sentence of 15 years.

The 54-year-old Ballarat-born man was also fined 1.5 billion rupiah ($A155,000).

If he fails to pay the fine, Myatt will be required to serve an additional four months in jail.

The decision is another major relief for Myatt, who was indicted on three charges, including one count of trafficking, which carries a maximum penalty of death.

He was stopped as he arrived at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport in February on a flight from India after he aroused the suspicions of Customs officers.

He was later found to have swallowed more than 70 plastic casings containing 1.1kg of hashish and four grams of methamphetamine, otherwise known as ice.

It had been expected he would receive a similar sentence to Sydney-man Michael Sacatides, who earlier this year was given 18 years for attempting to smuggle 1.7kg of ice into Bali from Thailand.

But chief judge Gunawan Tri Budiono said that while the evidence against Myatt was overwhelming, he accepted the defendant's claim that he had been a long-term drug user and was willing to undergo rehabilitation.

Under Indonesian law, people who can prove they have a drug dependency are often shown leniency.

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Australian drug mule gets 8 years in Bali jail