NSW man arrested in Bali over medication without doctor’s note collapses at police station

An Australian Air Force veteran detained in Bali for not bringing a doctor’s note with his medication has been rushed to hospital.

Australian air force veteran Michael Petersen - detained in Bali for carrying 87

dexamphetamine pills - has been receiving treatment in hospital.

The 37-year-old was taken to hospital on Sunday after collapsing at Denpasar police station.

Chief of Bali police narcotics unit, I Made Pakris, confirmed Mr Petersen received medical attention.

Michael William Petersen says he had no idea he had done anything wrong by bringing his prescription medication to Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

“He collapsed yesterday from not taking the pill. The officer then took him to the hospital and the doctors gave him a similar drug,” Mr Pakris said.

The former air force technician yesterday spent his wife Linda’s birthday under the harsh lights of Denpasar police stationinstead of a four-night dream escape.

Their dream trip descended into a nightmare the moment they arrived at the international airport where police apprehendedMr Petersen for entering Indonesia carrying the 87 pills.

The Australian was detained due to the quantity of the drug, which is used to treat ADHD. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

MORE NEWS

PM ‘deeply disturbed’ by China spy claims

Viewers savage Selena at AMAs

60 doctors warn: Assange could die in jail

Mr Petersen has said he had no idea he had done anything wrong by bringing his prescription medication with him and had evendeclared the medicine to Customs.

But his oversight, in not bringing the doctor’s letter and prescription explaining the medication and his condition, myastheniagravis, has landed him in jail.

In emotional scenes, wife Linda was showered with kisses and hugs from her husband who also presented her with a birthday cake at the police station.

Customs and police detained Petersen because of the quantity of the drug – which is

commonly used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy and are usually prescribed by specialist

psychiatrists.

Linda, the wife of Michael Petersen, arrives at Police HQ to visit him. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

It also comes with a ‘black box’ warning regarding drug dependence specifically for those with drug and alcohol dependencies.

Mr Petersen has been on the medication, which he takes four times a day, for three years.

“He declared the medication, which contains a Type 1 narcotic. We have received (a copy of

the) prescription,” Sienny Karmana, the spokesperson for Petersen’s lawyer, Edward Pangkahila, said.

Yesterday, Mr Petersen’s lawyer said that his client’s medical records have arrived at Denpasar

police station confirming his use of the medication and that he is prescribed Dexamphetamine, which contains a Type 1 narcotic,for depression.

“The amount is too much. That is the problem. He is here for only four days so 87 pills is too

much for four days. The police understand it is a medicine,” his lawyer said.

It is expected that Williams will be detained until the investigations are completed within the next 48 hours.

Originally published as NSW man arrested in Bali over medication without doctor’s note collapses at police station