THE NSW teenager locked up in a Bali jail is likely to spend Christmas behind bars after his hopes for a swift release were dashed yesterday.

Sources within the Jakarta Attorney-General's office revealed the 14-year-old boy's case went "pear-shaped" once it became known his parents had engaged an agent to shop around for a highly-paid media deal, The Daily Telegraph reported.



Chief prosecutor Gusti Gede Putu Atmaja told the judge the boy should be found guilty on all three drug charges, and requested he be sentenced to three months in jail under the tough Article 127 of the Indonesian Narcotics Law.

Until news of a possible paid deal surfaced, the source said there was an amicable agreement to treat the teenager with leniency and fast-track his return home to Australia.

The boy was to be released at the end of yesterday's court session and ordered to return to Australia for rehabilitation, under the supervision of his parents. He was due back at school next week.

But last weekend it was revealed the teen's parents had engaged media agent Grant Vandenberg to act on their behalf. Mr Vandenberg confirmed he had spoken with the Nine Network as recently as last Saturday, but denied a deal had been signed.

The source said that the parents even had talks with TV stations about a paid interview was a considerable insult to Indonesian authorities.