EXCLUSIVE

THE head of the police forensics laboratory in Denpasar, Koesnadi, confirmed to News Corporation that the white powder found on teen Jamie Murphy does not contain any illegal drugs.

Mr Koesnadi said the powder contained at least four materials, including caffeine and painkillers.

“We have tested the white powder and it’s not drugs,” Mr Koesnadi said.

“It’s a mix of at least four materials, including caffein and analgesics.”

And he said blood and urine tests on Murphy were also negative.

media_camera Jamie Murphy's lawyer Desy Widyantari when she visited him in Kuta Police Station. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro/News Corp Australia

Bali’s Police chief, Inspector General Sugeng Priyanto, said that as the lab tests were negative for drugs Murphy had not violated the law and would soon be freed.

“As it is not drugs, automatically he has to be freed as soon as possible,” Insp General Priyanto said.

“The laboratory tests are negative. It is not drugs,” he said.

“As it is not drugs it means there is no violation of the law. So he should be released.”

Murphy’s lawyer, Desy Widyantari, left the police station, saying that Murphy had been delighted to learn that the drug tests were negative and she hoped he would be freed soon.

“He said hopefully this can be finished soon.”

However she could not guarantee that he would walk free on Wednesday and said he may need to wait until Thursday for all paperwork to be completed.

media_camera Australian schoolie Jamie Murphy from Perth escorted by police in Kuta, Bali. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro.

The lawyers are yet to receive the official paperwork from the laboratory showing that the drug tests are negative.

Widyantari said that the teenager had no idea how the white powder came to be in his bag and that he had never used drugs before.

“He said he never brought it and it’s not his,” Ms Widyantari said.

Asked what Murphy had said about the sachet of white powder, Ms Widyantari said: “He doesn’t know, it’s just suddenly in his bag. He was in a semi-conscious condition.”

Ms Widyantari said she had not met Murphy’s parents.

And co-lawyer, Made Suarjana, said that Murphy can’t recall everything that happened on the night as had been suddenly searched by security at Skygarden when the white powder was found in his bag.

“Because he was panicked, he doesn’t remember all the events,” Mr Suarjana said.

Before the official confirmation was made Bali police sources earlier told News Corporation the powder was not drugs.

Kuta police chief, Wayan Sumara, said Murphy had not been named as a suspect. He is being held at the police station.

media_camera The parents of 18-year-old Jamie Murphy, who is under arrest and in jail in Bali, are on their way to Bali. Picture: Nic Ellis / The West Australian

Police have previously said if the powder is negative for drugs that Murphy would not be charged with any offence.

He has been kept in a room of the station, with a couch to sleep on, and not locked up in a cell since his arrest about 1am on Tuesday morning.

Australian Consular officials visited Murphy. Two of his friends arrived, bringing food and drinks and an Australian expat in Bali brought him some vegemite sandwiches and fruit.

It comes as Skygardens defended itself against claims the club’s security guards were involved in a set up of Murphy, releasing their own CCTV footage of the moment he was stopped for a routine search as he attempted to enter the massive Kuta club.

BALI BOY’S PARENTS IN MERCY DASH

The 18-year-old’s parents, from Ellenbrook in Perth’s east, left for Denpasar this morning on a mercy mission to support their son — who is yet to be charged with drug offences, but is now the subject of worldwide media attention.

media_camera Friends of Jamie Murphy visit him at the Kuta Police Station where he is being detained. Picture: Supplied

Murphy, who arrived in Bali on Sunday, was arrested outside the Sky Garden nightclub in Kuta by security and handed over to a nearby police post.

“It’s not mine, I haven’t taken it, what are you doing, it’s not mine. It’s not mine,” he shouted during his arrest, which was captured by Channel Nine cameras.

Murphy’s family remains tight-lipped on his arrest, while the teen’s friends claim he’d been set up.

Murphy is spending his second night in an office of the Kuta police station and has yet to be officially interrogated.

He now faces a nervous wait to find out if he will be named as a suspect and charged.

Two lawyers from local firm Vidhi Law Firm, who have been signed up to represent him, visited Murphy at the police station.

After the visit one of the lawyers, who did not want to give her name, said that Murphy had told her the white powder was not his and that he had not purchased it.

But police sources told News Corp Australia he admitted to buying the white powder, which is still being tested by the forensics laboratory, from a local on the street in Legian.

He was alone at the time of his arrest, about 1am, and no family has visited him at the police station. His parents left Perth Airport early this morning on a flight to Denpasar, Bali.

Police sources have confirmed the net weight of the white powder is 1.46 grams. The total weight, including the bag, is 1.69 grams.

media_camera A picture posted on Facebook showing what Murphy’s friends said is him being set-up by bouncers who they claim planted the alleged drugs. Picture: Supplied

FRIENDS CLAIM THE TEEN WAS SET-UP

Angry friends of Murphy claim the teenager has been set-up.

Taking to social media Ty Airey wrote, “A big f**k you to the Australian media, you can clearly see the cocaine in the security’s hand BEFORE he even opened up the bag, don’t drag his name through the gutter when even the video u posted has it clearly showing a set up”.

Five male friends of Murphy have visited the teen, arriving at the police station at 4.30pm local time, carrying drinks and food.

They told officers on the front desk they wanted to visit their friend.

They didn’t speak to waiting media other than to confirm they were his friends.

Police took them into a waiting room where they were allowed to visit the Perth teen for about 30 minutes in a room at the police station.

media_camera Murphy’s friends did not talk to waiting media other than to confirm they were his mates. Picture: Supplied.

TEEN’S ARREST IN BALI A WARNING FOR OTHERS: BISHOP

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has issued a warning to young Australians travelling overseas for schoolies after a young man was detained in Bali for being in possession of a bag of white powder.

Ms Bishop confirmed Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials would be meeting with the young man today.

Officials in Canberra had also been in contact with his family in Perth.

“We’re providing whatever consular support and advice we can in terms of assisting with legal representation and whatever other assistance we can provide at this stage,” Ms Bishop told the Seven Network this morning.

media_camera Australian schoolie Jamie Murphy was arrested last night at the Sky Garden nightclub in Legian Street, Kuta, Bali. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro.

“Under Indonesian law people can be held for up to three days.

“They can be detained for a further three days while investigations are carried out and then a decision is made whether to charge someone or not.

“I have to take this opportunity to remind young people in particular who are going overseas for schoolies weeks or trips after the end of school to remember they are subject to the laws of the country that they’re visiting.

“When you leave Australia behind, the Australian legal system, the Australian support system and you are subject to the laws of another country.”

Although Murphy has been described as a “schoolie” the Western Australian Department of Education confirmed he was not a school leaver this year.

Julie Bishop warns schoolies to be cautious overseas Julie Bishop warns schoolies to be cautious overseas

FAMILY REMAIN TIGHT-LIPPED ON TEEN’S ARREST

Supporters of Murphy have expressed shock at his arrest and say it would be totally out of character for him to be involved in drugs.

Murphy, who turned 18 only recently, is thought to have been a student at Ellenbrook Secondary College and went to Bali with mates to blow off steam after finishing year 12.

He is said to be a highly talented soccer player and a star of his team Bayswater City Soccer Club.

He is thought to have caught the eye of A-League WA club Perth Glory and had a couple of tryouts.

The president of the Bayswater City Soccer Club Gerry Maio said Murphy was a talented player who had “a couple of trials” with Perth Glory.

“He’s well and truly an athlete,” he said.

Mr Maio said Jamie was well liked and respected by his teammates.

“We are talking about a decent human being here ... a champion athlete.”

media_camera Murphy tries to shield his face from the cameras. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro/News Corp Australia.

At his home in the eastern Perth suburb of Ellenbrook, his family were tight-lipped, no doubt warned by Australian diplomats not to talk to the media for fear of complicating his case.

But his brother told Seven News the family is working with the Australian embassy in Indonesia and it was a “difficult time” for them.

Locals say Jamie is the younger of two brothers.

His father Brendan is thought to be an English-born chef who runs a cooking school and online business under the name Chef Explorer.

Neighbours said Jamie and his brother Liam were well known in the area and were known to like a party.

Like other young men his age, Jamie’s Facebook page is full of pictures taken in happier times of lively looking parties with mates.

Arrested schoolie being taken from Kuta police station this morning Arrested schoolie being taken from Kuta police station this morning

MURPHY COULD FACE 12 YEARS IN JAIL

Earlier Murphy appeared dazed and surprised as he was lead out of the police station and into a bank of media cameras, asking the police: “What’s this? What is the fuss?”

If the white powder is confirmed as drugs Murphy could face serious consequences.

The maximum penalty for drug possession under five grams, is 12 years in jail.

Indonesia treats drug offenders harshly and even small amounts can earn months and years behind bars in Kerobokan prison.

media_camera Murphy originally denied the powder found in his bags was his. Picture: Lukman S Bintoro/News Corp Australia

Kuta police chief Wayan Sumara said the teenager had not yet been officially interrogated and stressed there was no result yet to prove the powder was drugs.

He said the powder was yet to be tested by the police forensic laboratory and this could take several days, during which time Murphy would remain detained in the police station.

Under Indonesian narcotics laws, police can hold a person in custody for three days before naming them a suspect and then, if needed, can extend for a further three days.



Murphy was taken for blood and urine tests to determine if he tests positive to drug use.

Under Indonesian law, drug users are treated more leniently than dealers and sellers.

media_camera Jamie Murphy pictured on the day of his arrest with his Billabong bumbag. Picture: Instagram.

TEEN NABBED AT POPULAR NIGHTCLUB

Police said that Murphy was arrested after security officers checked his Billabong bumbag at the entrance of the popular Skygardens nightclub and allegedly found the white powder inside a small plastic bag, along with a mobile phone, an ATM card and a hotel room key.

Sumara said that about 1am local time security officers at the Skygarden nightclub were checking the belongings of those entering.

media_camera The Sky Garden nightclub in Kuta, Bali. Picture: AsiaWebDirect.

During his arrest, captured by Channel Nine, he protested to police and security: “It was not like that” and “It’s not mine, I haven’t taken it, what are you doing, it’s not mine. It’s not mine.”

And he told police: “I don’t do this s---, I only drink.”

“I wouldn’t do that to myself, I wouldn’t do that.”

At one stage, he put his head in his hands, saying “My God.”

In the wake of the latest incident Sumara repeated again his warning for schoolies: “My message for Australians coming to visit Kuta, especially for the schoolies who come to Kuta to enjoy the nightclub or discotheque, please be careful about drugs, even if someone offer you or sell to you drugs and the material is in your hand this means you are in the criminal (case). That’s why the police in Kuta will (be serious).”

Kuta Police Chief Wayan Sumarka gives advice for Schoolies in Bali Kuta Police Chief Wayan Sumarka gives advice for Schoolies in Bali

His arrest comes as West Australian and Queensland schoolies celebrate schoolies week in Bali ahead of an influx of thousands of Victorian and NSW schoolies next week.

And it comes only days after Kuta police warned that they would bring the full force of Indonesian law to bear on schoolies breaking the law or buying drugs.

NOFFS FOUNDATION CALLS FOR DRUG LAW REFORM

A leading youth drug rehabilitation service, the Ted Noffs Foundation, has called for the Government to make every effort to secure Murphy’s return to Australia.

“We are seeing the effects of the drug war and criminalisation of young people overseas and we are in their shadow. Criminalising young people is horrifically inhumane and Australia is no better. Does it work? No. Young people will continue to experiment with drugs as long as they exist in our society. The government should campaign strongly to bring this boy home and all states of Australia need to revisit their own drug laws. More often than not we are criminalising our children because they are either experimenting or deeply disadvantaged. Change must happen and soon,” said the Noffs spokesperson.

Originally published as Bali teen could soon walk free