National

Australian Model Denies Owning Ecstasy
Tuesday, 23 August, 2005 | 13:51 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Michelle Leslie, 24, an Australian model, has denied the charge that she owned two ecstasy pills found in her possession when she was arrested in Denpasar on Saturday (20/08).

“The pills belonged to her friends,” said Comm. Mardiaz, Head of Investigation Unit II at the Bali Police Narcotics Directorate on Monday (22/08).

According to Mardiaz, Leslie admitted having obtained the ecstasy pills during dinner with her friends at a restaurant in Kuta before attending a party at the Lotus Pond in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) complex, Jimbaran.

“However, we are still continuing to conduct the investigation,” stated Mardiaz.

Leslie, he said, was still unwilling to give detailed information because she was yet to receive legal representation or at least be accompanied by a member of the Australian consulate staff in Bali.

She was arrested by Bali Police during a routine operation early Saturday morning (20/08) in front of the gate of the GWK complex.

During the operation, police found two ecstasy pills in her bag.

If proven guilty, Leslie could receive a sentence of between 4 and 15 years in prison. (Rilla Nugraheni-Tempo News Room)