The Text Basketball Player Facing Death Penalty in Indonesia 'Sent Teammates'

An American basketball player sent text messages to his teammates amid the possibility of the death penalty after importing illegally imported cannabis gummies.

Jarred Shaw is facing the possibility of the death penalty or a long jail sentence after being arrested for a drugs offence.

He was a key member of Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) side Prawira Bandung, who won the league in 2023.

Shaw, who played college basketball for the Utah State Aggies, has scored more than 1,000 points over three seasons in the country, but he is now in pre-trial detention and is banned for life from the IBL.

Indonesia have strict laws on drugs and more than 500 people are on death row - the major for offences linked to drugs.

Shaw's cannabis gummies weighed 869 grams and were worth $400.

The 35-year-old, however, insists he uses them in a medical capacity to help him with Crohn's disease.

"I use cannabis as a medicine," he told the Guardian from a prison just outside Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. "I have an inflammatory condition called Crohn’s disease that’s incurable. There’s no medicine apart from cannabis that stops my stomach from aching."

Jarred Shaw has played most of his basketball career away from the United States. Image: Tangerang Hawks

Shaw, who lives in Thailand during the off-season, said he endured the pain of going without cannabis in previous seasons in Indonesia, admitting he made a 'stupid mistake'.

He added: "There’s people telling me I’m about to spend the rest of my life in prison over some edibles. I’ve never been through anything like this.

"I felt helpless and alone. I didn’t want to wake up again."

The Dallas native is starting to feel like himself again through prayer and his faith, as well as access to a prison gym.

"I just turned 35 but I still feel young. I would love to continue my basketball career," he said.

Shaw continued to explain the reasons behind his use of cannabis, revealing it helps ease his anxiety and depression, not to mention the pain from Crohn's.

"I don’t use it to have fun and go party," he added. "With my stomach condition, sometimes it’s hard for me to keep food down or go to the toilet. It just soothes the pain a little bit."

Jarred Shaw was selected by the Santa Cruz Warriors with the 18th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Development League Draft. Image: Getty

According to Indonesian police, Shaw sent text messages to his teammates saying that he would share some of his cannabis candles with them.

"What they consider drugs, I consider medicine," he said. "It’s just different cultures."

Ronald Sipayung, the Soekarno-Hatta Airport police chief, told reporters that Shaw could face life in prison or even the death penalty if found guilty.

"We are still running the investigation to uncover the international drugs network behind this case and to stop its distribution," Sipayung said.

Shaw is fundraising to cover his rising legal fees but has not yet appeared in court despite being arrested five months ago.