No plan for random urine tests, say Bali police

DENPASAR, Bali - Bali's drug squad chief has denied police plan to conduct random urine tests on clubbers and party goers on the resort island.

Bambang Sugiarto today said officers would demand urine tests only from people suspected of drug use or dealing.

"We don't test just anyone in the pubs and we won't start doing that now," Sugiarto told AAP.

"We have to be selective.

"We only test certain people who we have investigated or had under surveillance, and who we suspect are users or dealers."

Sugiarto appeared to be clarifying recent comments to reporters about the urine tests.

"We cannot go to every party but we go in at random and based on priorities," he had told reporters, pointing out that education programs had been run before deciding on the hardline approach.

"So, after doing that, and the people still use drugs, since we have laws to uphold then we have to take action like launching raids, arrests."

Australian model Michelle Leslie is facing up to 15 years in jail in Bali if she is charged and convicted of possessing two ecstasy tablets.

The 24-year-old was detained during a routine drug sweep outside a Bali dance party earlier this month. Police allege two ecstasy pills were found in her handbag.

Recent media reports that random urine tests were being planned has caused consternation among some Australian tourists.

"What if a police officer spikes your drink and then does a 'random' test? You'll test positive and then... face jail," said one Australian, who asked not to be named.

He said many of his friends may decide not to come to Bali for a holiday due to such fears.

But other Australians said the prospect of random testing did not worry them.

Perth woman Claire Dobson, 24, was at Paddy's nightclub on Legian Street with about nine other Australians last month when police raided the bar.

"It's not stopping my friends and I from going out, and the clubs have been the most packed I've seen them in a long time," said Dobson, who has lived in Bali for the past year.

"If I was in a drug circle I'd be scared.

"But you'd have to be pretty stupid to take drugs to these places."

Dobson said the Paddy's raid was "scary" but seemed to be targeted at a group of locals.

She and her friends were not even approached by police, who were accompanied by journalists, she said.

"About 60 cops came in and the chief got on the microphone and said something in Indonesian that we couldn't understand," Dobson said.

"Then they turned off the music and turned on the lights and whisked a lot of people, mostly locals, down the back near the toilets.

"The chief kept talking over the microphone while police frisked the locals. We later heard they did urine tests.

"After about 15 or 20 minutes they walked out with one guy draped in gold chains in handcuffs.

"We were never even approached by anyone or asked anything."

She said some foreigners left as soon as they saw police arrive. No officers tried to stop them.

Byron Bay woman Kris Stokes is also undeterred about going to clubs and bars.

"Not being someone who takes drugs, it doesn't worry me," she said.

- AAP