Wanted WA man arrested in Bali after producing 'stolen' passport
AAP on April 7, 2016, 6:26 am
Photo: 7News
An Australian wanted in Perth on drug charges has been arrested in Bali after he allegedly produced another man’s passport and claimed the photo was taken when he was “chubby”.
Shaun Edward Davidson aroused the suspicions of authorities when he was confronted by immigration officials at a cheap hotel in the popular beachside area of Kuta last month and produced a passport in the name of Michael John Bayman.
“The photo on the passport is different from his face. When we asked him, he said the photo was taken when he was still chubby,” Muhammad Sholeh from Ngurah Rai Immigration Office said on Wednesday.
When the 30-year-old from WA came into the immigration office for further questioning last month, Sholeh said he “finally admitted that the passport he showed us belonged to someone else”.
Mr Davidson then allegedly said he had lost both this and another Indonesian travel document, known as a KITAS, while in Bali.
Photo: 7News
It is alleged he got someone from nearby Legian to forge a new KITAS for him.
Mr Davidson is believed to have travelled to Indonesia on January 28 last year - the same day he was due to appear at the Perth Magistrates Court on a number of drug offences, including possessing a prohibited drug with the intention to sell or supply.
An arrest warrant was issued on the same day.
Mr Davidson is being held in the immigration detention centre in Denpasar.
Photo: 7News
He is expected to be charged with immigration offences, including using a false stay permit and possessing another person’s travel document, and could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
On March 29, he posted an appeal for funds on Facebook to pay for lawyers and supplies in detention.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to an Australian man arrested in Bali.
“Due to Privacy Act obligations, we will not provide further comment,” a statement said.
