Indonesian police have said they will likely treat an Australian accountant arrested on drug charges as a user, not a dealer.
There were fears Isaac Roberts would face the death penalty if found guilty after allegedly being caught at Bali airport with ice and ecstasy on December 4.
Authorities in Indonesia treat drug users more leniently than dealers, meaning the 35-year-old tourist should face a lighter sentence if found guilty.
Indonesian police have said they will likely treat an Australian accountant (pictured) arrested on drug charges as a user, not a dealer
There were fears Isaac Roberts (pictured) would face the death penalty if found guilty after allegedly being caught at Bali airport with ice and ecstasy in his suitcase on December 4
Authorities in Indonesia treat drug users more leniently than dealers, meaning the 35-year-old tourist should face a lighter sentence if found guilty (pictured are drugs alleged seized by police)
Roberts, a former Liberal Democrats candidate from Toowoomba, was able to meet his mother and his lawyers on Wednesday, Perth Now reported.
He was taken from his cell to a police station where he saw his mother, who is in Bali offer him her support.
Bali police deputy director of narcotics Senior Commissioner Sudjarwoko said Roberts had been classified as a drug user following medical tests and interrogations.
Roberts (pictured), a former Liberal Democrats candidate from Toowoomba, was able to meet his mother and his lawyers on Wednesday
Roberts (pictured) was taken from his cell to a police station where he saw his mother, who in Bali offer him her support
Mila Tayed, a member of Roberts’ legal team, said her client was happy to see his mother and was doing fine.
Roberts said he had no reason to feel sorry and nothing to say.
A friend of Roberts said the accountant was a daily ice user, injecting up to a gram of the drug a day, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The friend of almost five years said Roberts became ‘hyper-vulnerable’ as his drug habit got more serious.
‘He was a super-dynamic, colourful, energetic, enthusiastic, optimistic person when I met him,’ the friend said.
Bali police deputy director of narcotics, Senior Commissioner Sudjarwoko said Roberts (pictured) had been classified as a drug user following medical tests and interrogations
‘He had a real habit … I saw him over the years and each time he was a bit more of a shadow of what he was before. I was worried about him – I absolutely regret now I didn’t intervene at the time.
‘There is no question about it being a personal thing. He is not a drug mule, he is a drug addict.’
According to the friend Mr Roberts was in a long-term relationship, but it had ended, and that Roberts was having difficulty finding work mid-year.
The chartered accountant had arrived on a flight from Bangkok when he was allegedly caught with the drugs.
The high-flying chartered accountant (pictured) had arrived on a flight from Bangkok when he was allegedly caught with the drugs
Police claim Roberts was carrying 6.22 grams of ecstasy, 14.32 grams of methamphetamine and 22 millilitres of a psychotropic substance.
Details of his arrest were kept secret until Tuesday, when the drug bust was announced by Indonesian officials.
‘We have arrested an Australian, IER, for bringing drugs into Bali,’ Customs and Excise Officer Husni Syaiful said.
Roberts is being held in jail in Denpasar, Indonesia, and is expected to be transported to Kerobokan prison while awaiting trial.
Police claim Roberts (pictured) was carrying 6.22 grams of ecstasy, 14.32 grams of methamphetamine and 22 millimetres of a psychotropic substance
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