Antony de Malmanche, New Zealander accused of smuggling drugs into Indonesia was set to kick off in Bali

The trial of a New Zealander accused of smuggling drugs into Indonesia was set to kick off today.
Antony de Malmanche, 52, was arrested at Denpasar International Airport and charged with carrying 1.7kg of methamphetamine in his backpack on December 1.
He had travelled to Hong Kong to meet his internet girlfriend, 'Jessie', before flying to Bali.
The Wanganui beneficiary has been in custody since and, if found guilty of drug trafficking, could be sentenced to death - likely by firing squad.

Antony de Malmanche's lawyer says he's the victim of human trafficking rather than a drug trafficker. Photo / AP
Today de Malmanche's lawyer, Craig Tuck, confirmed he was being transported to court from the Kerobokan prison where he was being held close to the Bali Nine inmates, who are facing execution.
Mr Tuck said the trial would commence before a panel of three judges with the reading of the indictment, which lists the death penalty as the maximum penalty for drug importation.

An Indonesian legal team would then advise the court of preliminary challenges to evidence "along with other associated administrative matters such as clarification on aspects of the indictment and timetabling", Mr Tuck said.
Mr Tuck said the trial was expected to take at least six months with hearing time of only one day a week allocated.
A Givealittle page set up by de Malmanche's family to help fund his legal fees has reached $13,850.
Meanwhile, Peter Gardner, the 25-year-old New Zealander who could face the death penalty in China on suspicion of drug smuggling, is still awaiting a decision on whether his case will go to trial.
The New Zealand-born Sydney resident has been in detention since his arrest on November 8 in Guangzhou, where authorities allege he tried to smuggle 40kg of methamphetamine out of China.
Mr Tuck has also joined Gardner's defence team and will travel to China soon to work with his client's Chinese legal counsel.
"Mr Gardner has had his file transferred from the police to the prosecutor's office," Mr Tuck said in a statement today.
"He is detained in a cell while he awaits the decision about whether or not his case will proceed to trial.
"He is grateful for the love and support of his family and friends in New Zealand and Australia," Mr Tuck said.
Gardner's travelling partner, Sydney woman Kalynda Davis, 22, was released in December after a month in custody without charge.
When Ms Davis returned to Sydney, her father revealed she was cleared because she had carry-on luggage only.
She had been shackled in a small cell during the 30-day interrogation, was allowed no contact with the outside world and had her long, blonde hair cropped.