A well-known Greek Australian man rescued from his broken down boat in Indonesia has been charged with drug offences.
Tony Haritos from Darwin was sailing around West Timor when his catamaran broke down twice near the Sabu Islands. The 63-year-old began to suffer severe back pain from a long-standing injury and collapsed. It wasn’t until several days later that a local fisherman spotted the boat and informed police.
When Indonesian police came to Mr Haritos’ rescue, they took him to hospital on the island of Sumba. Three days later they requested a urine drug test be performed – the results came back positive for methamphetamines. Police then searched Mr Haritos’ boat where they allegedly found 0.06 grams of methamphetamines.
Mr Haritos admitted to having bought the drugs in Bali over 12 months ago, said his lawyer Sienny Karmana, and had stored them in his cabin, which he later used to “self-medicate” for his back injury.
“When he fell down in the boat he wanted to reduce the pain and then he used [the drugs] again,” Ms Karmana said.
According to Indonesian law, methamphetamines are considered class 1 narcotics, and is a crime to own, keep and possess the drug. As a result, Mr Haritos faces a possible 12-year prison term.
In the meantime police have granted Mr Haritos permission to move to a hospital in Bali, where he is awaiting MRI test results for a possible spinal injury.
“The injury is quite bad,” Ms Karmana said.
Mr Haritos reportedly signed a document acknowledging his arrest, and that he would face prosecution when his health improves.
According to a report by The Age, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is providing consular assistance.