The death sentence of a French drug dealer in Indonesia 'commuted in 19 years'

A French man sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia has had his sentence commuted to 19 years in prison, his lawyer and the media said.

Felix Dorfin, 35, had been convicted of trafficking about 3 kg of various drugs on the island of Lombok, Indonesia.

The decision of the Mataram High Court overturned the death sentence pbaded by a lower court less than three months ago.

Indonesia has some of the most stringent laws in the world regarding drugs.

Dorfin's lawyer, Denny Nur Indra, is pleased with the decision, telling Agence France-Presse: "God be praised, Dorfin's sentence has been commuted."

It is not clear if prosecutors will appeal the last sentence.

The Antara news agency said that although the decision has been registered, it has still not been officially transmitted to the parties concerned. The reasons for this decision should be made public later on Friday.

Antara said that a fine of 10 billion rupees ($ 703,000) had also been inflicted.

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Dorfin was arrested last September at Lombok airport, where he had arrived by plane from Singapore.

He was carrying a suitcase full of drugs, including ecstasy and amphetamines.

The lower court judge cited Dorfin's involvement in an international drug syndicate and the amount of drugs in his possession as aggravating factors.

The verdict of the death penalty was a shock, with prosecutors demanding 20 years in prison and a fine of $ 700,000 (£ 540,000).

No one has been executed in the country since 2016, although a number of strangers are still under sentence of death.

Earlier in the year, Dorfin escaped from the prison where he was being held by cutting the bars of his cell window and abseiling with a rope made of sarong and curtains.

A police officer was arrested for helping him escape in exchange for money.

He was later picked up by police who found him hiding in a forest north of the island.