An Australian man on trial for alleged drugs offences in Indonesia has said he was 'deceived' and 'coerced', ahead of being sentenced by a Bali court.
Lamar Ahchee, 42, was arrested in Bali in May after Indonesian police tracked the delivery of two packages containing cocaine to his apartment in North Kuta.
Inside was 1.7 kilograms of cocaine, worth about $1.1m, concealed across more than 200 Lindt chocolate wrappers.
A trial for Mr Ahchee began in September, with the 42-year-old denying knowing there was cocaine in the packages, saying he had them delivered as a favour to a friend.
At court on Tuesday, Mr Ahchee submitted a letter expressing his 'sincere remorse'.
"I stand before you today in a position I never imagined, one born of personal weakness, fear, and calculated deception," he said in the letter.
"I take full responsibility for my actions and offer no excuse, only the truth."
In the letter, Mr Ahchee describes battling an addiction to cocaine while living and working in Sydney, a "struggle" that "followed (him) to Bali".
Mr Ahchee then alleges that he was then "deceived, coerced and manipulated" by another man while he was in Bali.
In the letter Mr Ahchee said that the man told him to collect a package that contained "children's toys".
Mr Ahchee also said in the letter that this man knew Mr Ahchee was "fragile, financially strained and fearful".
"I feared for my safety and for the safety of my partner and family," Mr Ahchee said in the letter.
"I was not acting out of greed or criminal intent."
"In a moment of weakness, I complied. That decision has become the greatest mistake of my life."
Unlikely Ahchee will receive the death penalty
Lamar Ahchee had been living and working in Indonesia for several years before being arrested.
He was initially indicted on offences that carry the death penalty, but that is now unlikely to happen.
Last week, Bali prosectors sought a nine-year sentence for Mr Ahchee.
"There are no grounds for justification or excuse that would remove the defendant's criminal liability, so he can be given a punishment proportionate to his actions," Prosecutor I Made Dipa Umbara told the court.
Prosecutors said that the defendant had not supported the government's efforts to combat narcotics, but factored in that they believed Mr Ahchee had "behaved politely during the trial".
"From the moment of my arrest, I have cooperated fully with the Indonesian police," Mr Ahchee said in his letter.
"It breaks my heart to now be accused of dishonouring the very community that welcomed me."
"I am devastated to have brought shame to my family and to the country that gave me a second home."
"I respectfully ask the Court to recognise that I was misled—not motivated by criminal intent."
Mr Ahchee is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks.
