Australian Dad Troy Smith Learns His Fate After Being Caught With Methamphetamine In Bali

• He was sentenced to a stay in rehab
• He spoke to the media for the first time

An Australian father arrested with methamphetamine in Bali has spoken publicly for the first time after escaping a lengthy prison sentence.

Troy Andrew Smith, 49, appeared in Denpasar District Court on Thursday, where a panel of judges sentenced him to six months of rehabilitation at Anargya Sober House.

The father-of-two, from Port Lincoln in South Australia, was arrested with 3.19g of methamphetamine in a Colgate toothpaste container at the Champlung Mas Hotel in Legian on April 30.

His lawyers argued that Mr Smith had no knowledge of the presence of drugs.

He and his new wife Tracy Ijusa had been on holiday on the island for a week when Indonesian police raided their hotel room. She has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The court had previously heard that police had found an additional 0.4g of the drug, purchased in Bali, as well as a bong and a lighter. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 12 years.

Escorted by officers, Smith arrived in court in handcuffs, wearing a red jail vest over a white business shirt.

“The defendant was found guilty of abusing drugs for his personal use, and therefore the defendant (was) sentenced to undergo medical and social rehabilitation at Anargya Sober House for six months, thereby reducing the time he spent in custody,” Presiding Judge Ketut Suarta read out on Thursday.

The judge acknowledged that Smith had been polite during the trial and had admitted and shown remorse for his actions.

He also took into account the fact that Smith had never committed a crime before.

A relieved Smith spoke to media outside court after being sentenced.

“I would like to thank my lawyer Sakti,” he said.

“To my beautiful mother and sister, sorry and thank you, and to Tracy, on whose support and love I count every day.”

His lawyer, Ida Bagus Gumilang Galih Sakti, added that Smith’s wife had supported him, despite several absences from court.

“Tracy gave him support so he could be strong,” Mr. Sakti said.

“She didn’t come to court to make sure Troy was focused solely on his case. If Tracy showed up to court with a lot of questions from outside, Troy couldn’t focus.”

More soon