Darwin woman Jesica de Koeyer detained in Bali, released without charge

A young Darwin woman was strip searched, interrogated and thrown into a cell after Indonesian authorities mistook her prescription medicine as smuggled drugs. Details.

Darwin woman Jesica de Koeyer held in a cell in Bali after Indonesian officials suspected her of having smuggled drugs in her baggage. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A young Darwin woman was strip searched, interrogated and thrown into a cell after Indonesian authorities mistook her prescription medicine as smuggled drugs.

Now, she wants her experience to serve as a lesson for others.

In June, Jesica de Koeyer, 29, transited through Bali Airport with the intention of flying-on to West Timor – where her mother’s wedding was going to be held.

However, as Ms de Koeyer was passing through customs, a critical error would derail her trip entirely.

Packed in Ms de Koeyer’s bag was her medicinal marijuana, which had been prescribed to her three years earlier.

It was at the Denpasar International Airport that Ms de Koeyer was arrested. (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP)

After authorities examined her baggage, the flower-form marijuana was discovered and Ms de Koeyer became Bali Airport’s latest drug smuggler suspect.

“They asked me to go into a room and strip down completely to check if I’ve put anything inside my body,” she told this publication.

“I was completely naked with a Muslim woman and another woman who asked me to cough three times to make sure nothing was inside me.”

Next was a meeting at the chief supervisor’s office.

“I explained it’s for my insomnia, PTSD, body pain and depression,” Ms de Koeyer said.

“I said ‘this is what my doctor gave me’ and that it wasn’t a narcotic.”

Ms de Koeyer took a selfie just moments before she was arrested.

Her version of events fell on deaf ears and Ms de Koeyer was ultimately taken to a police watchhouse where she would spend the next four nights and three days curled up in a cell without her belongings – including her phone.

“They (said they) wanted to investigate whether I was a drug trafficker or from a gang,” Ms de Koeyer said.

“I thought they would understand but they definitely did not, I was just being naive.”

As for her sleeping quarters, her mattress smelt like “everyone” who had shared the room before her.

Another prisoner – a Singaporean woman – was also locked up alongside her on suspicion of drug offences.

“She was a beautiful, young woman, 29-years-old like me,” Ms de Koeyer said.

“She was in the same trouble I was in and the only way out was for her to pay heaps of money.

“I was crying every night I was there.”

An Australian Embassy official would eventually visit the helpless Territorian, only for Ms de Koeyer to learn they did not have “much power” and could only help her to communicate with her loved ones.

Ms de Koeyer stayed in a cell for four nights and three days. (File photo by Dimas Ardian/Getty Images)

Back in Australia, Ms de Koeyer’s friend, Robert, caught wind of her dire situation and began work to set her free.

Robert dipped into his own wallet to pay $10,000 for a local lawyer – the first step to getting Jesica out of her cell.

However, Indonesian protocol for ‘drug offenders’ is to send them to a rehabilitation centre which the ‘patients’ also have to pay for.

“It was another $3000 for the rehabilitation program,” she said.

“Because I wanted to get out straight away, they said ‘we’ll do you a favour, you just have to take some pictures with different clothing to look like you’ve actually stayed here’.”

On her final night in Bali, another young female – this time a 24-year-old French national – joined her in the cell.

“She was crying after they told her she was going to be detained,” Ms de Koeyer said.

“She cried so much, this young, beautiful girl who barely knew anything, you know.”

Standing beside a rather fitting roller door following her release.

As fate would have it, Ms de Koeyer made her mother’s wedding “just in time” after she was released without charge.

“Everyone in the village knew what happened to me,” she said.

“I was getting more backlash from my family than anyone else.”

Now exonerated and well-versed with the risks associated with taking medicinal marijuana overseas, Ms de Koeyer offered advice to those considering taking their own prescription drugs overseas.

“Don’t bring it unless you get a letter from immigration saying you are allowed to travel with this,” she said.

“I never brought a letter – I thought a doctor’s certificate was enough.”

For ironic reasons, Ms de Koeyer said she believed her Bali nightmare might value-add at a later date.

“I’m actually going to be studying at Charles Darwin University in criminology and psychology.”

The Indonesian Embassy and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs were both contacted for comment.

Originally published as Darwin woman Jesica de Koeyer detained in Bali, released without charge