A former business partner of an Australian man facing the death penalty in Indonesia claims he quit their tax firm three years ago and suddenly moved to Thailand.
Isaac Emmanuel Roberts was allegedly caught with crystal meth and ecstasy pills in his suitcase at Denpasar International Airport, in Bali, on December 4.
The 35-year-old, who was once a high-flying chartered accountant in Queensland, is facing a maximum of 20 years in jail or even the death penalty if he is found guilty.
Despite claims he has long battled drug addiction, an ex-business partner of Roberts said he was shocked to see him paraded on TV in an orange jumpsuit and balaclava.
The ex-business partner of Australian man Isaac Roberts (pictured), who is facing the death penalty in Indonesia, says he suddenly quit their tax firm three years ago and moved overseas
Isaac Roberts is escorted by armed police officers from the media conference on Tuesday
Hayden Oh, who was a partner of Roberts at their firm M Tax accountants, said it had been three years since he last saw the alleged drug smuggler.
He said Roberts had battled mental illness and that back in 2014 he ended their work partnership abruptly and moved to Thailand.
‘We were tax agents and we prepared the returns for clients, but physically we didn’t share an office – he was a sole practitioner,’ Mr Oh said.
‘His office was in Fortitude Valley and mine was in Brisbane, and then one day he said he was going to go overseas and he’s not going to work anymore.
‘He said he had a new business idea and he moved to Thailand. Maybe it was really a holiday, I’m not sure, but I tried to contact him a few times and couldn’t reach him.’
Mr Oh said he hadn’t spoken or seen Roberts since their partnership ended in 2014.
In fact the first he heard of him since their separation was when he was called by his mother last week and asked to provide a reference for her son.
‘She just called me and wanted me to help with a reference so she could try and get him out on bail,’ Mr Oh said.
The 35-year-old (far right) confessed to being a prolific drug user and told waiting media he was a ‘f***ing addict’, but alleges he is not a dealer. (There is no suggestion any of those seen with Roberts are using or dealing drugs)
Roberts (right) works as a professional accountant and was last registered as an employee of Tax Accountants in Queensland.
‘I said personally I haven’t seen him since we were co-workers three years ago but he was a good person.’
Just hours after being paraded to the media for the first time, Roberts was reportedly rushed to hospital on Tuesday night suffering from shock.
His lawyer Deni Sedana said Roberts suffered from depression and was considered a suicide risk, and had been treated by doctors overnight.
‘He got sick. He was shocked after the press conference today,’ Mr Sedana said.
‘He has a big tendency to do suicide because he often feels depression. He has a mental disorder.’
Mr Sedana said Roberts had planned to fly from Bangkok, Thailand to Australia, but was convinced by a friend to go to Bali instead.
Roberts was allegedly caught with the drugs hidden in his suitcase on December 4, but his arrest was kept hidden from the public until now.
Roberts (pictured) reportedly arrived in Bali on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok on December 4
Roberts (pictured) was allegedly found with 6.22 grams of ecstasy, 14.32 grams of methamphetamine and 22 mils of a psychotropic substance
Roberts (pictured) reportedly arrived in Bali on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok on December 4
The accountant confessed to being a prolific drug user and told waiting media in the courtroom was a ‘f***ing addict’, but alleges he is not a dealer.
Roberts ran as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the seat of Higgins in Melbourne in 2009. He was unsuccessful, finishing eighth out of 10 candidates.
His social media accounts reveal the alleged drug user to be a dedicated gym junkie who regularly visits the Indonesian island and Thailand.
Pictures on his Instagram show his frequent travels to Asian destinations such as Sukhumvit in Bangkok, Thailand.
Roberts was allegedly found with 6.22 grams of ecstasy, 14.32 grams of methamphetamine and 22 mils 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.
Isaac Roberts is escorted by officers, followed by media, at the customs office in Kuta, Bali
A Malaysian man, initials given as CHJ (left) and a US man, initials given as KSL (right) were also arrested after allegedly being caught with a small amount of drugs in their possession
Speaking to media after the conference, Roberts reportedly said he was invited to Indonesia by a customs officer.
‘I was working with a customs officer and they knew I was going to bring something,’ he told reporters in Bali.
‘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.’
Indonesian police alleged Roberts admitted to being a drug user, but denied he was a dealer.
Roberts is being held in jail at police headquarters in Denpasar, Indonesia.
When the police investigation is finished, he will reportedly be transferred to Kerobokan prison – where he will await trial.
Anti-Narcotics Agency officials show an Australian man (second from left), an American man (centre), and a Malaysian man (second from right)
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