Australian arrested in Bali on drug charges


Bali: Australian Isaac Emmanuel Roberts has been detained in Bali after he was allegedly caught with drugs at the airport.

Customs authorities said the 35-year-old was arrested after arriving from Bangkok with 19 grams of shabu, a slang term for the drug amphetamine, and ecstasy pills.

Customs officer Husni Syaiful said the Australian would face charges of drug importation under article 113. He said the maximum punishment was the death penalty and the minimum was five years' jail.

The man and two other foreigners from Malaysia and the US were paraded before the media on Tuesday wearing orange shorts and t-shirts with balaclavas over their heads at Ngurah Rai customs office, near Bali's international airport. Their arrests were unrelated.

They were flanked by two customs officer dressed in dark blue, their faces also hidden, who were armed with guns.

Roberts was arrested on December 4 and has been detained ever since.

As he was escorted out, Roberts told the media he had been invited to "this country" by someone who was working with a customs officer. "They knew I was going to bring something," he said.

"I'm just a f....g addict. They want to waste resources on addicts, they want to punish addicts this is ridiculous. What about the f…..g importers? I wasn't going to sell it to anyone here, noone was going to use it here. This is ridiculous. This is an embarrassment."

He said he was only carrying a few grams when kilos of drugs went through the airport.

According to a press release, the Australian, who was referred to using the initials IER, was caught with five packets of clear crystal meth, weighing 19.97 grams and 14 tablets of 6.22 grams. Rapid narcotics tests tested positive to amphetamines and ecstasy.

It said he had hidden the drugs in several packages of contraception inside a clear plastic bag. This was placed in his luggage and backpack.

An Australian accountant has been arrested in Bali on drug smuggling charges that carry the death penalty.

Isaac Emmanuel Roberts, 35, was reportedly arrested with 19.97 grams of crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy pills in his luggage.


He faced a media conference in Bali today with other men from Malaysia and the US, each wearing a black balaclava over their heads and bright orange prison clothes.

Mr Roberts, a chartered accountant, was arrested after a search of his luggage when he landed at the Indonesian holiday island on December 4 this year.

Details of the arrest, however, were kept under wraps until today when officials announced the bust.

Mr Roberts told media as he was taken out of the conference that he had been invited to “this country”.

“They knew I was going to bring something,” he said, Fairfax reported.

“I’m just a f....g addict. They want to waste resources on addicts, they want to punish addicts? This is ridiculous. What about the f…..g importers? I wasn’t going to sell it to anyone here, no one was going to use it here. This is ridiculous. This is an embarrassment.”

Bali drug bust: Former Australian Liberal democrat candidate allegedly caught with 19.97g of methamphetamine

Isaac Emmanuel Roberts, who was born in Toowoomba in Queensland, stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the blue ribbon seat of Higgins in Melbourne, vacated by former treasurer Peter Costello, when he retired in late 2009. Roberts polled eighth out of the 10 candidates. His listed address is now Crows Nest, a country town in Queensland.

Roberts was brought into a media conference today wearing a black balaclava over his head and bright orange prisoner shorts and shirt. He and two others sat on chairs behind officials, guarded by two officers also wearing balaclavas and carrying rifles and he was made to stand as officials displayed the drugs allegedly found in his luggage.

Roberts, 35, was arrested after a search of his luggage when he landed at Bali’s international airport on December 4 this year but details of his arrest were kept secret until today when officials announced the bust.

Roberts was angered at being paraded for the media, telling local reporters it was ridiculous and suggesting that he had been working with Customs and invited to Bali and that Customs knew he was bringing something with him.

“Parading small time users in front of media for tiny amounts when there are kilos coming through this airport. It’s ridiculous,” Roberts told the media, suggesting he had been set up.

“I was invited to this country. I was working with a Customs officer and they knew I was going to bring something,” he said as he was bundled away.

Police said Roberts had allegedly admitted to being a user of drugs but not a dealer, hence he may not face available charges which carry the death penalty for drug importation. Indonesia treats drug users more leniently than traffickers and dealers.

Roberts will likely face charges for drug possession and importation and importing and possessing a psychotropic drug. A customs official said this was punishable by maximum death penalty, life sentence or minimum five years and maximum 20 years in jail.

They alleged that secreted inside Roberts’ luggage was 14.32 grams of methamphetamine, 6.22 grams of ecstasy and 22ml of Alprazolam, better known as the anti-anxiety drug Xanas.

Customs officials allege that Roberts appeared suspicious after his arrival on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Bali and after a routine x-ray of his luggage he was further searched in a Customs examination room.

Roberts, whose personal website includes his picture, describes himself as a qualified chartered accountant, chartered tax adviser and registered tax agent. His Twitter account describes him as a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor in Sydney.

In November 2015 Roberts, of Queensland, faced a Professional Conduct Tribunal of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand hearing, accused of failing to reply to correnspondence regarding his the completion of his liability capping questionnaire and reporting on his professional indemnity arrangements.

He was reprimanded and ordered to pay $3100 plus GST toward the cost of the disciplinary action.

Roberts is currently being held in the police jail at police headquarters in Denpasar.He will be transferred to Kerobokan prison later, when the investigation is complete and where he will await trial in the Denpasar District Court early next year.

As he was escorted out, Roberts told the media he had been invited to "this country" by someone who was working with a customs officer. "They knew I was going to bring something," he said.

"I'm just a f....g addict. They want to waste resources on addicts, they want to punish addicts this is ridiculous. What about the f…..g importers? I wasn't going to sell it to anyone here, noone was going to use it here. This is ridiculous. This is an embarrassment."

He said he was only carrying a few grams when kilos of drugs went through the airport.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:00 pm
The guy should shut the hell up.

prahocalypse now wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:47 am He is an accountant.