Police Deny Australian Boy Was Framed

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Bali police have denied allegations that the  14-year-old Australian boy, LM,  who was arrested for carrying drugs had been framed to commit the offense.

The Bali police's intelligence chief, Senior Commissioner Mulyadi, said here on Tuesday "there was not setup in this case."

He said although by law police are allowed to set up traps to catch  suspects in narcotic cases, they had arrested the Australian youth purely based on a citizen's report.

"It was  the result of a report from the community," he said.

Australia had earlier asked the police to give special treatment and a special place for LM  and ,  according to reports, even for his  transfer to another location.

"It is now still being considered because he is still a child. If there is a better and more representative place, only then will we do it," he said.

Mulyadi said perhaps the suspect would remain at the Bali regional police command's detention cell but  be separated from other detainees and would be given time to meet with his family at any time in accordance with his rights as a child.(**)