Ben Panangian known as Schapelle Corby's boyfriend has been sentenced to 10 months jail. Picture: News Corp Source: News Corp Australia

Ben Panangian was found guilty in Denpasar District Court on Thursday December 11 in relation to two packages of marijuana — 0.64 grams which he was carrying when arrested and another package of 6.58 grams found in a boarding house room. A third package was found not to contain marijuana.

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The sentence was less than the 16 months recommended by prosecutors.

Ben Panangian was arrested for possessing a small amount of marijuana in Kuta, Bali. Picture: News Corp Source: News Corp Australia

Presiding judge Beslin Sihombing said Panangian, whose full name is Bernard P Simanjuntak, had been found guilty of committing drug abuse for himself and the Judges had no reason for lenience but they found he was a victim of narcotic circulation.

Judge Sihombing said the Judges had considered an assessment by the addiction assessment team at Sanglah Hospital.

“The examination concluded that the defendant is an active drug user, especially of marijuana,” Judge Beslin said.

“From the assessment, the team found that the defendant used the drug for himself, that the defendant is a drug user of ganja (marijuana).”

Judge Beslin said Panangian’s actions were contrary to the Government programs to eradicate narcotics but that he had confessed his crime and shown remorse.

Ben Panangian has been sentenced to 10 months behind bars. Picture: News Corp Source: News Corp Australia

“The defendant is still young so that the defendant can change his behaviour in the future. The defendant is a victim of his behaviour and victim of narcotic circulation,” Judge Beslin said.

Panangian, who was arrested in August, told the court during his trial that he had used marijuana since he was 14, in senior high school and that sometimes he might smoke three to five joints of marijuana a day but did not use it every single day.

During his trial the Judges were particularly curious about his former relationship with Corby, whom he met in jail in 2006 when both were serving prison terms on drug charges. Panangian was then serving a three and a half year sentence and Corby was serving 15 years.

The pair became a couple in jail, were regularly affectionate in the jail visiting area and after Panangian was released from jail he continued to visit and bring her supplies. After Corby’s release the couple was photographed together as he helped her to refurbish her brother-in-law’s shop in central Kuta.

On numerous occasions during the trial the Judges questioned Panangian about Corby, his relationship with her and about why he was so “famous”.

The judge found Panangian was a victim of narcotic circulation. Picture: News Corp Source: News Corp Australia

On the day he gave evidence in his defence, Judge Beslin Sihombing asked Panangian if Corby was his friend or his girlfriend and if he had a “special relationship” with the parolee.

“No Your excellency. Only as a friend,” Panangian said. Really, the Judge inquired.

He also asked if Panangian had ever used drugs with Corby. “Never,” he said.

Panangian said he first met Corby after her arrest as her family was part of the surf community, the same as him but he claimed he had not communicated with Corby since she was released on parole in February this year.

And Corby has told her parole officers that Panangian is not her boyfriend.

Panangian told the court that he sometimes used drugs at Kuta Beach and he admitted that he was guilty. He said he only used marijuana and never any other drugs.

Schapelle Corby has denied her and Panangian are in a relationship. Picture: News Corp Source: News Corp Australia

He had got the marijuana from a friend in Surabaya but usually bought it at Kuta Beach.

Asked how much marijuana he consumed, Panangian said he didn’t use every day and often there were two or three days that he didn’t use “because my income is not too much”.

Panangian was arrested on August 20 this year after he arrived at a friend’s home as it was being raided by drug police. He dumped a package of marijuana on the street when he saw the police, who then arrested him and searched his boarding house room and found more.

However the more serious charges of drug possession, which carry a 12 year jail term, were not preferred. Instead he was convicted under legislation for drug users.