Pubdate: Wed, 24 Aug 2005
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Greg Ansley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ANOTHER AUSSIE HELD UNDER DRUGS CHARGE IN INDONESIA

Another Australian has been arrested on drugs charges in Indonesia, 
following the high-profile arrest of model Michelle Leslie for alleged 
possession of Ecstasy at a Bali dance party.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer confirmed that 20-year-old Adelaide 
teacher Graham Clifford Payne was in custody after police allegedly found 
him in possession of more than 2000 pills of a "broad array of drugs", and 
several syringes.

The arrests follow saturation coverage of the trial of Gold Coast beauty 
therapy student Schapelle Corby, now serving 20 years for possession of 
cannabis, and the death sentences Bali prosecutors are seeking for the 
alleged heroin smugglers known as the Bali Nine.

"Look, the Schapelle Corby case, if you had missed it you'd have to have 
been a hermit," Downer told ABC radio, commenting on the number of 
Australians still being caught on drug charges in Asia.

"That has been an enormously prominent case. To be honest, people must take 
the warnings seriously and not think they can take a risk."

Downer's warnings came with some good news, however, with the decision by 
Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong to commute to life imprisonment the 
death penalty passed last November of Australian heroin trafficker Tran Van 
Thanh.

The decision was made on humanitarian grounds and in consideration of the 
good relationship between Vietnam and Australia, Downer said.

Welcoming the announcement, he said Canberra would continue to press for 
clemency for an Australian citizen and a permanent resident also facing 
death in Vietnam.

Investigating officer Irwan Anwar told the Australian that police had 
arrested Payne after stopping the three-wheeled becak vehicle in which he 
was travelling and allegedly finding a packet of methamphetamine in his pocket.

Police allege they later found 2126 other pills and four used syringes in 
the house in which he had been living in Medan, Sumatra, and that Payne's 
urine had tested positive for amphetamines and heroin.

"I think his situation [is] incredibly serious," Downer said.

If testing shows large amounts of amphetamines or other illegal drugs, 
Payne could face trafficking charges, which carry the death penalty.

Meanwhile, Bali police said that Leslie had tested negative for drugs and 
that the nature of the two pills which police allegedly found in her 
handbag had yet to be confirmed.

Police said Leslie had been heard to tell a friend shortly after her arrest 
that another friend had paid about A$50 ($54) for the tablets at a Kuta 
restaurant and put them in her bag.

Leslie hired Bali lawyer Mohammad Rifan, who helped get Australian John 
Pyle a light sentence for cannabis possession. Leslie could face 15 years 
in jail, with a minimum of four years served.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman