Australian model tests positive for drug use

DENPASAR, Bali - Blood and urine tests carried out on Australian model Michelle Leslie had proved positive for drug use, police in Bali said yesterday.

Leslie, 24, who is facing 15 years in an Indonesian prison for drug possession, was allegedly caught with two ecstasy tablets at a rave party in Bali on August 20.

Two tablets allegedly found in her bag by police that night were also forensically confirmed to be ecstasy, police said.

Early reports said the Adelaide-born model had tested negative for ecstasy.

But Endung Hardanto, head of Bali police's anti-narcotics taskforce, told journalists: "Michelle, for urine and blood, is positive, and the evidence is positive."

Leslie's family said they were not surprised by the results.

"Such information was anticipated and we are now confident that the matter can progress in accordance with the defence strategy," family spokesman Sean Mulcahy said.

He said the family has faith the Indonesian justice system will treat Leslie fairly, according to her alleged crimes.

"The family understands that the matter will soon begin to move through the Indonesian legal system and they have faith that justice will prevail at the hands of those authorities," he said in a brief statement.

Mulcahy would not comment on police allegations that Leslie confessed under interrogation to owning the two ecstasy tablets.

One of her lawyers, Christo Imanuel Dugis, has claimed she may not have been psychologically sound when she allegedly admitted during interrogation that she was addicted to ecstasy and had sought medical treatment to kick the habit.

Her legal team is demanding police re-interrogate her to clarify her original statement.

Hardanto said police had requested details about Leslie's medical history, including any prior drug use, from her doctor in Australia.

"We're still waiting for a letter from Michelle's doctor in Australia about her health record," he said.

She would be charged with drug possession under a law carrying a maximum of 15 years in jail and minimum of four, he said.

- AAP