Leslie denies drug addiction
By Sian Powell in Denpasar and wires
August 26, 2005
MODEL Michelle Leslie has denied telling Indonesian police she was addicted to ecstasy and sought medical treatment to kick the habit, says a spokesman for her Australian lawyer and family.
The head of Bali's drug squad, Colonel Bambang Sugiarto, yesterday said Leslie told police interrogators she had last used ecstasy two weeks before her arrest outside a Bali dance party on Saturday, when Indonesian officers allegedly found two tablets of the drug in her handbag.
Ms Leslie allegedly told police: "I'm addicted to it. I can't enjoy parties if I don't use ecstasy," before claiming that she didn't know it was illegal to carry drugs in Indonesia.
She also nominated her religion as Islam, according to the police document obtained by the Seven Network.
A spokesman for the model's Australian lawyer and family later said Ms Leslie denied the allegations.
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"Ms Leslie strenuously denies the allegations being made against her and shall vigorously defend any such claims," he said.
"Ms Leslie again requests that members of the media, not attempt to contact her, her family or friends, and to please respect her privacy.
Ms Leslie's Indonesian lawyer M.H. Rifan, who sat in on her interrogations, said he had no knowledge of the comments.
"I don't know where that came from," Mr Rifan said. Col Sugiarto said tests on Ms Leslie's urine had returned a negative result for drugs, though her blood would also be analysed because any traces of drugs would last longer in blood samples.
The 24-year-old is facing up to 15 years' jail for drugs possession after being caught with two pink ecstasy tablets in her Gucci handbag at an "outdoor party" in Kuta last week.
Mr Rifan's last Australian client, Adelaide man John Julian Pyle, also told Bali authorities he was addicted to drugs and threw himself on the court's mercy.
Recently sentenced to five months in prison for possessing 1.8g of hashish, Pyle was widely thought to have been sentenced very leniently.
The new controversy came as the Australian Government sent out an urgent warning about drugs to Australians in Indonesia, urging thousands of residents and visitors to steer clear of narcotics.
The warning follows high-profile drugs cases in Indonesia where 10 Australians now face the death penalty if convicted.
Australia's ambassador and consuls in Indonesia are emailing the warning to all Australian residents and visitors registered with the missions, saying local police are cracking down on drug use and possession.
"While the campaign is not targeting Australians, the crackdown has resulted in Australians being detained and arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences, including for possession of small quantities of recreational drugs," the email says.
"These cases should serve as a strong reminder to all Australians of the seriousness of such offences. I am writing to all Australians registered in Indonesia to urge you to not to take chances: purchasing, carrying or taking any drugs into Indonesia is simply not worth the risk.
"Australians do get caught and the strict penalties in place, which include the death penalty, do apply to foreigners."
Meanwhile, lawyers for Schapelle Corby said they remained confident of a new hearing for the convicted drug-smuggler, sentenced to 20 years in prison, despite the Bali High Court previously declining their request.
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![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
