Australian castaway rescued by Indonesian officials could spend 12 years in prison


An Australian man who survived four days on his stricken boat in Indonesian waters before he was rescued, dehydrated and ill, has now been hit with drugs charges.
After his rescue, by local people off Sumba, in Eastern Indonesia, police searched his catamaran and allegedly found methamphetamine onboard.

And things have become even worse for 63-year-old Anthony Haritos, the manager of well-known Darwin shipping firm, Haritos Shipping, who severely injured his back after slipping over on the boat during the police search.
Haritos is also listed as the director and co-manager of the Dili International School in East Timor.



He appears to have been caught after police saw a social media image of a man using drugs who allegedly looked like Haritos and shared the same tattoos.
This prompted a search of his boat, which by then was on the beach at East Sumba, and during which police allege that 0.06 grams of methamphetamine was found on the vessel.


Anthony Haritos receiving treatment in a hotel in Sumba before being taken to a local hospital.Image: SuppliedHaritos is now being held as a suspect on charges of drug possession, which carry a maximum 12 years jail and of using drugs for himself, which carries four years and the prospect of rehabilitation, not jail.
Since his arrest, Haritos has been laid up in a motel and hospital on Sumba, in severe pain as a result of his back injury.
His lawyer, Edward Firdaus Pangkahila, has now arranged for Haritos to be transferred to Bali, so he can be treated in a better-equipped hospital.

He is expected to be flown, on a medevac charter flight, from Sumba to Bali this week.
Edward said he is in agony and is not sure what damage has been done to his spine.



The beached boat Anthony Haritos was rescued from.Image: SuppliedEdward, who this week went to Sumba to accompany Haritos during his police interrogation and to assist with arranging urgent medical care, said the man’s ordeal began on July 16 when his catamaran was reported missing.

He had been sailing from Australia to Rote, where he planned to investigate investing there and building a villa.
Hit by a high wave, the sail was damaged and the engine would not start while the boat was in waters near Sabu Island.
Haritos, who was on board with an Indonesian, was finally rescued four days later, on July 20.


Haritos taken to the hospital in Sumba.



Haritos taken to the hospital in Sumba.“Apparently there was a big storm. His boat got damaged and the engine could not be turned on. He had oscillated in the ocean for days until local people saved his life,” Edward said.
“When he was saved he was in a weak condition. He suffered severe dehydration. He had medical treatment at a local hospital for days.”

But then things quickly got worse for Haritos.

“Police saw a picture in social media of someone using drugs. The picture was identical with him, with the same tattoo.



Search and Rescue teams discuss how they will find the Australian.Image: SAR Kupang/Supplied"That made the police feel suspicious. Police asked the hospital to conduct a urine test and it was found that his urine was positive to drugs.
“Following that discovery, days after, when his condition got better, police asked him to go with them to the vessel. Police searched the vessel.

"The drugs were found under his bed, 0.06 grams of methamphetamine. And he admitted it was his.”

Haritos speaking with the search and rescue team.It was during the police search of the boat that Haritos slipped and fell down, severely injuring his spine, which he had first hurt back in 2003.
Edward said Haritos had admitted the drugs were his, used, he told police, to keep his strength up while sailing.
Edward said Haritos urgently needs medical aid which is not available on Sumba and police have agreed that he can go to Bali for treatment so long as he returns to Sumba for the court case.

Police have kept his passport to ensure he returns.

“We have guaranteed that he would not escape and he would come back whenever is needed for the legal process. Police have shown empathy when they saw his condition.”


H

aritos' Australian passport has been seized by officials to prevent him fleeing the country.Image: SuppliedIt is understood Haritos also has a villa at Sanur in Bali.

East Sumba police spokesperson, Made Murja, told 7NEWS.com.au that Haritos had been named as a suspect in a drug case.

“Due to his illness we will send him to a hospital in Denpasar to get medical treatment. He has just undergone his first interrogation yesterday as he just got a lawyer,” Made said.

“We will proceed with the case. We have seized his passport. Once he gets better he has to come back to Sumba to face the legal process. For humanitarian reasons we will allow him to undergo medical treatment in Bali,” he said.