Briton arrested in Jakarta over marijuana possession

JAKARTA (AFP) - A Briton arrested for marijuana possession in Indonesia's capital Jakarta could face up to 12 years in prison if convicted, a police spokesman said Tuesday.

Kirk Elliott Neville, 36, who worked as an English teacher in eastern Jakarta, was detained on Saturday with a one-gram package and two joints of marijuana, the East Jakarta police spokesman Didik Haryadi said.

"Based on a tip-off from locals, we arrested him on Saturday evening when he was smoking a marijuana joint at his house," he said, adding that under the anti-narcotics law, Neville could face between four to 12 years' jail.

The British embassy confirmed his arrest and said it had offered consular assistance.