DENPASAR, Bali – The protracted legal proceedings against 43-year-old British national Piran Ezra Wilkinson, accused of smuggling 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, have finally culminated in a definitive verdict from the Denpasar District Court.
Presiding over the case, Judge Putu Gede Noviarta delivered the court’s decision during a verdict hearing on Thursday, February 26, sentencing Wilkinson to eight years in prison. The judicial panel found Piran Ezra Wilkinson guilty of violating the third indictment, specifically Article 112, Paragraph 2 of Indonesia’s stringent Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics.
According to Judge Noviarta’s pronouncement, Wilkinson was “unlawfully proven to possess, store, control, or provide Category A narcotics, other than plants, weighing more than 5 grams.” Consequently, the court imposed an eight-year imprisonment term, a clear signal of Indonesia’s uncompromising stance on drug-related offenses.
Beyond the custodial sentence, the court also ordered Wilkinson to pay a substantial fine of Rp 1 billion. Should he fail to pay this amount, an additional 190 days would be added to his prison sentence. Furthermore, the British national faces mandatory deportation from Indonesia upon the completion of his prison term.
In deliberating the verdict, the judicial panel highlighted several aggravating factors. Wilkinson’s actions were deemed to be in direct contravention of Indonesian law and were considered to have caused significant public unrest. The court also noted that the defendant’s involvement in drug trafficking activities directly undermined the Indonesian government’s concerted efforts to eradicate narcotics from the country.
Conversely, the court acknowledged a few mitigating circumstances. Wilkinson was noted for his cooperative demeanor throughout the legal process, his polite conduct, and the fact that he had no prior criminal record. Despite these, the gravity of the offense dictated a severe penalty.
The eight-year sentence handed down by the panel of judges was, however, slightly lighter than the 9.5-year prison term demanded by Public Prosecutor Made Dipa Umbara in earlier proceedings. Both Wilkinson and his legal counsel promptly accepted the court’s decision, with the defendant reportedly expressing relief at having avoided the maximum penalty, which could include the death sentence in Indonesia for serious drug offenses.
Wilkinson’s arrest took place at 2:30 AM WITA on Thursday, September 4, 2025, in Room 102 of Villa Anginsepoi, located in Pererenan, Mengwi, Badung. Authorities apprehended him shortly after he received two plastic packages containing cocaine, which had a gross weight of 1,343.67 grams, translating to a net weight of 1,321 grams.
Based on the indictment, Piran Ezra Wilkinson allegedly received the illicit substance from Kial Garth Robinson, who is facing charges in a separate case. This exchange was reportedly carried out under the explicit instructions of an individual known only as “Santos.” Further details revealed that Wilkinson, Kial Garth Robinson, and Santos had convened in Barcelona in late August 2025 to meticulously plan the shipment of cocaine to Bali.
Following the receipt of the cocaine from Kial Robinson, Wilkinson was reportedly instructed to store the narcotics for a period of one week, after which another individual would collect them. Investigations also uncovered that Wilkinson had made multiple trips to Bali, consistently engaging in the role of a recipient for cocaine shipments. (lia/JPNN)
Summary
British national Piran Ezra Wilkinson, 43, has been sentenced to eight years in prison by the Denpasar District Court for smuggling 1.3 kilograms of cocaine. He was found guilty under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law for unlawfully possessing over 5 grams of Category A narcotics. The court also ordered him to pay a Rp 1 billion fine or face an additional 190 days, along with mandatory deportation upon completing his sentence. Wilkinson accepted the verdict, reportedly relieved to have avoided a potential death sentence.
Wilkinson was arrested on September 4, 2025, in Badung, Bali, shortly after receiving 1,321 grams of cocaine. Investigations indicated he received the illicit substance from Kial Garth Robinson, acting under instructions from an individual known as “Santos.” The shipment was reportedly planned by the three in Barcelona in late August 2025, with Wilkinson’s role being to store the drugs for a week.