Australian man in Bali cocaine case delayed as key witness unavailable

An Australian man’s Bali drug trial has been delayed after a key witness failed to appear in court, authorities said, prolonging the proceedings in Denpasar. Lamar Aaron Ahchee, 43, the son of a former Queensland senior constable, is accused of helping smuggle about 1.8 kilograms of cocaine into Bali hidden inside Lindt chocolate wrappers. If convicted, he could face the death penalty under Indonesian law for drug offenses.

Authorities say the case centers on two packages from the United Kingdom that sparked the investigation at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar. Airport customs officer Angga Aryo testified that officers found two suspicious mail packages that, when opened, revealed 54 individually wrapped Lindt chocolate portions. Each wrapper purportedly contained 8.3 grams of cocaine, yielding a total around 1.8 kilograms. In court last week, Ahchee said he was assisting a friend known as “Boss” by receiving two packages at his Balinese home. “I'm not sure about the address on the package, it was my address, I never knew about the package at all, I was just helping my friend,” he told the court. Bali police officer I Putu Gede Mahardika described the operation as a common modus operandi, where the person who ordered the package instructs others to accept it on their own.

The trial was pushed back because a key witness was unavailable, delaying what had already been an intensive court process. A scheduling conflict with that witness prompted the postponement, and the case is now slated to return to court next Thursday, though prosecutors did not immediately specify a new time.

Ahchee’s legal team has sought to frame the case as one in which he was merely the courier of someone else’s orders. Ida Bagus Sakti, one of his lawyers, said the defense remains confident he would avoid capital punishment. “Me and my team are specialised in these narcotics cases,” Sakti said, claiming confidence the court would render a lenient outcome given their experience with similar matters.

The defense also pointed to the lack of a definite motive beyond assisting a friend, arguing that there were gaps in the chain of responsibility. In a push that underscored the sensitivities around Bali’s narcotics prosecutions, authorities have repeatedly stressed the seriousness of drug offenses and the severe penalties that can apply.

Ahchee, who grew up in Cairns, has a long history that stretches from Australia to Bali. He spent time in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where public profiles show he worked in nightlife venues and held senior roles in marketing and events. By 2019, he had relocated to Bali, where he was listed as the director and co-founder of several technology ventures and had previously held leadership roles in hospitality, including positions with well-known Bali nightlife and dining brands. In Sydney, he served as marketing and events director at Sydney Seadeck in 2015, before later taking roles at Omnia Beach Club and the Brick Lane Bali restaurant, where he served as general manager until stepping down last November.

Ahchee’s sister, Stephanie, visited him in Kerobokan jail in June, where she said their family was grateful for the Indonesian authorities’ professionalism. “Our family wishes to extend our sincere appreciation to the Indonesian authorities for their professionalism and impartiality in handling Lamar’s case,” she said, adding they were grateful for the fair and respectful treatment he had received from law enforcement and the legal system throughout the process.

The case continues to unfold against a backdrop of Indonesia’s strict narcotics laws. If prosecutors succeed in obtaining a conviction, the court could impose a range of penalties, up to the death penalty for the most serious drug offenses. The next hearing will proceed on the scheduled date next Thursday as authorities seek to resolve outstanding issues and determine whether the trial timeline can be maintained given the witness-related delay.