BALI, INDONESIA – An Indonesian court Tuesday sentenced a Briton to six years in prison for his role in a cocaine-smuggling case that led to a death sentence last week against a British grandmother.
Julian Anthony Ponder, 43, was convicted of receiving cocaine from 56-year-old Lindsay June Sandiford, who was found guilty of smuggling $2.5 million worth of the drug in her suitcase onto the resort island of Bali. Sandiford was sentenced Jan. 22 to death by firing squad.
Ponder seemed relieved after hearing the verdict, but declined to talk to the press.
“I think it’s light enough,” said his lawyer, Ary Sunardi. “We will suggest that he accept the sentence.”
Presiding Judge Gunawan Tri Budiono said Ponder was found guilty of possessing narcotics and also fined 1 billion rupiah ($102,500). Twenty-three grams of cocaine were found in his villa when he was arrested.
Prosecutors had sought seven years for Ponder, who could have received a life term.