Aussie nightclub manager David Van Iersel walks free from Bali jail due to coronavirus outbreak

Melbourne man David Van Iersel has been released from Bali’s Kerobokan jail after serving time on cocaine charges, amid fears for his friend, convicted drug felon Will Cabantog.

Wearing a black face mask and dark sunglasses, Melbourne nightclub manager David Van

Iersel has been released from Bali’s notorious Kerobokan jail after serving nine months on

cocaine charges.

The 39-year-old failed in his bid to stay in a hotel or villa with his girlfriend – Perth-born

and Bali-based graphic designer Nikkita Finn – for the duration of his fresh confinement

during Bali’s coronavirus lockdown.

He is now in a three-by-five metre room, with its own bathroom, in Bali’s Immigration office

near Nusa Dua, awaiting a commercial flight to Australia.

He will be deported from Bali on April 23.

Australian man David Van Iersel after his release. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

David Van Iersel and William Cabantog during an earlier appearance at Denpasar District Court. Picture: Lukman S.Bintoro

Bali has so far logged only three deaths and 135 confirmed case of the virus.

Typically prisoners are deported upon their release from an Indonesian prison, however,

Van Iersel will have to wait at the Immigration office unless officials backflip on their refusal

to allow him to stay in villa or hotel, which would be heavenly upgrade from Bali’s so-called

‘Hotel K’ jail, which was built for 320 prisoners but has close to 2000 inmates.

David Van Iersel and his friend William Cabantog were jailed over cocaine possession. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

According to Ngurah Rai Immigration spokesman Putu Suhendra, a room at the

Immigration centre was prepared for Van Iersel’s arrival.

“We have prepared the mattress for sleeping. We can’t allow him to stay at the villa or

hotel, even under our officer supervision. If he stays in a villa or hotel (how will we)

guarantee (that he will) not contract the virus?” Mr Suhendra said.

Once he arrives on Australian soil, he will have to remain in quarantine for a further 14 days.

William Cabantog was allegedly in possession of 1.12 grams of cocaine and arrested in July following a police operation targeting cocaine trafficking in Canggu, Kuta, Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Last July Van Iersel – along with his friend William Cabantog – were busted by Indonesian

police snorting cocaine in the office of the trendy Lost City nightclub in Canggu.

The pair faced a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail for possession on 1.12 grams of

cocaine. Both pleaded guilty and the judge found that Van Iersel was a drug addict, which

attracts a more lenient sentence in Indonesia – a nation that is notoriously tough on

narcotics crimes.

His light sentence of nine months’ jail, less time served, was attributed to the Van Iersel

being a victim of the narcotics trade. Cabantog was dealt a 12 months jail term.

Recently, Van Iersel’s girlfriend – who has supported him throughout the justice

process, wrote on social media about the couple’s dream to return to her home town of

Perth.

“I was supposed to be moving back to Australia permanently this month … It has been a

heart wrenching and often very outwardly emotional decision for me but it’s all to do with

the person I love and for us to be together so in the end there is no other decision to be

made! Now that I am in Bali for what seems to be the foreseeable future, I am happy to be

here supporting and helping the locals as much as possible,” Ms Finn posted on social

media.

Will Cabantog in his cell at the Kerobokan prison in Bali. Picture: Supplied

The couple were freely enjoying Bali’s glamorous high life together before the drug bust that was triggered via a public tip-off.

At the trial, the court heard the men ‘siphoned’ cocaine through a rolled-up bank note

in the office of the nightclub. During the raid, police found the cocaine in Cabantog’s jeans

and a set of scales in his rented motorbike.

The court heard that Van Iersel was ‘highly addicted’ to narcotics, which he had been using

since he was 18 years old and that he used rehabilitation services inside the jail.

Earlier, friends of Cabantog said the Melbourne man should be released early from Kerobokan due to the threat posed by the coronavirus.

Cabantog, 36, is due for release in July after serving a year for cocaine possession.

Friends of Cabantog are worried the coronavirus outbreak, which is threatening to overwhelm Indonesia’s health system, could have a devastating effect in the prison.

A riot erupted last week in a jail in North Sulawesi where inmates were concerned about a guard who was showing symptoms of the virus.

Indonesia is releasing 50,000 prisoners who are close to the end of their sentences to try to reduce the risk, but Cabantog has so far been told he must serve his remaining three months behind bars.

Will Cabantog was arrested in Bali in possession of cocaine. Picture: Instagram

Cabantog inside the cell of Denpasar District Court waiting for his trial. Picture: Lukman S.Bintoro

“I’ve spoken to Will and we’re both worried that, due to the pandemic, Kerobokan prison does not have enough testing kits, social distancing is near-impossible due to the number of inmates and further riots might take place due to requests for mass testing,’’ a friend told News Corp.

He said prison authorities were working hard to reduce the risk.

“William has reported that the prison authorities are doing all they can to prevent the outbreak by giving out sanitary supplies to all prisoners, hand sanitiser and face masks, regular decontamination sprays and temperature testing.’’

However, the risk remained to all prisoners including five Australians in Kerobokan.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which is providing consular assistance to Cabantog and other Australians in the jail, told News Corp it was “closely monitoring developments on Indonesia’s policy for the release of prisoners in response to COVID-19.’’

The department said it understood the policy to release prisoners near the end of their sentences did not apply to foreign prisoners.

Indonesian Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said last week that 53 foreigners would be included in those released, but it is understood these prisoners are mostly West Papuans detained on border offences, and does not include western inmates.

Cabantog’s friend said his family was desperate for him to return to Melbourne before he was put at further risk by the coronavirus pandemic.

“My feeling is that no-one is coming to rescue Will and our constant requests for early release by our consulate is falling on deaf ears,’’ he said.

“Will is currently fit, healthy and continually reading and teaching English to fellow inmates and studying every day, praying that he gets to see his sick mother who worked in the Australian health care system as a retired nurse for over 40 years.

“She’s suffering from diabetes and arthritis and hopes and prays every day to see her soon as possible.’’

Originally published as Aussie nightclub manager David Van Iersel walks free from Bali jail due to coronavirus outbreak