Charges yet to be laid against former Melbourne nightclub promoters William Cabantog and David Van Iersel

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This article is more than 1 year old

Two former Melbourne nightclub promoters facing drug possession charges in Bali have been paraded wearing shackles in front of the media.

The men have been named in media outlets as William Cabantog, 35, and David Van Iersel, 38.

Dressed in orange prison fatigues with their heads bowed, police led Cabantog and Van Iersel out in handcuffs and foot shackles on Tuesday morning, alongside 27 local alleged drug suspects.

Cabantog had his face in his hands.

Officers also displayed evidence they say they had collected during their investigation, including 1.12 grams of cocaine and a set of scales.

The cocaine package was allegedly found in Cabantog’s jeans pocket.

Denpasar police chief Ruddi Setiawan confirmed the pair were facing drug possession charges.

“We advise tourists, locals and foreigners to come here for a holiday, don’t come to have a drugs party or to use drugs,” Setiawan told reporters.

“We will take firm action if any foreigners resist. We will not be lenient.”

The duo are in custody at Denpasar’s police station and are likely to be transferred to Kerobokan jail.

“We got information that there are foreigners that use drugs. Based on the information we conducted an investigation for a week,” Setiawan said.

It could be several months before their case reaches court.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Indonesian policemen present Australians William Cabantog (L) and David Van Iersel (C) to journalists during a press conference at a police station in Denpasar Photograph: Yuda A Riyanto/AFP/Getty Images

University of Melbourne Indonesia expert Tim Lindsey said they could be facing a minimum of four years jail and a maximum of 12 years, if convicted.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo was first elected in 2014 on a strong platform of zero tolerance towards drug offences.

Bali Nine ring leaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, after a decade on death row, despite intense Australian diplomatic lobbying to spare their lives.

“[Widodo] has been very consistent about it and merciless in his application of the law to drug offenders,” Lindsey said.

“On the other hand however, when it is small quantities like a gram or so, there have been cases where the courts have been less aggressive in Bali.”

Lindsey noted punishments are usually much lighter if the court is convinced the drugs were for personal use.

Cabantog and Van Iersel, were arrested on Saturday during raids of homes and nightclubs in the resort village of Canggu.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Australian men arrested in Bali over drug possession

David Van Iersel (2-R) and William Cabantog (2-L) are escorted by police officers at the Denpasar Police Headquarters in Bali, Indonesia, 23 July 2019. Photograph: Made Nagi/EPA

Police reportedly seized CCTV video from a venue where one of the men worked.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it stood ready to offer consular assistance.

With additional reporting from Australian Associated Press