This is a fairly accurate news story about my recent experience here in Bali. One important element does not appear in this story: I was treated with respect, dignity, and pure neutrality by all of the personnel of the narcotics unit of Polresta Denpasar once I had been delivered to their office for detention/investigation. They were courteous, and conscientious, and my human rights were fully respected during the detention/investigation. I was most impressed by the professionalism, diligence, and equanimity of the investigation and detention team within the offices of Polresta Denpasar throughout the entire experience.

In other words, the almost universally negative public opinion about the police in Bali, particularly in relation to narcotics issues, do not accurately reflect the whole truth. Detainees under investigation (at least at Polresta Denpasar), are treated humanely and without discrimination. To correct one minor error in this article, I was actually held 3 x 24 hours (in accordance with the law), and then that period was extended (again in accordance with the law), to allow the investigators and other officials within various law enforcement and monitoring agencies in Indonesia to complete certain aspects of their investigation and reporting.

I have no complaints whatsoever about the treatment I received after I was delivered by the (large group of) arresting officers to Polresta Denpasar. In fact, I was extremely impressed by the diligence and discipline of the investigation team, working very hard and with extremely limited resources, facilities, personnel and budget. Kudos. Seriously. I am free because I am entirely innocent, and because of the diligent work of the investigators to discover the facts, and report them objectively allowed justice to be served. And justice was served, without any “manipulation” or “favors” or “transactions” of any kind taking place at any level.

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