Italy denies talks on drug suspects

DENPASAR, Bali: Vice Honorary Consul of Italy Giuseppe Confessa denies reports that his government has pressed Bali governor Made Beratha to have three Italians released from their drugs charges.

"We have never asked anybody to have the three released before necessary legal process based on Indonesian law," Confessa said here on Friday.

"We always try to maintain bilateral ties with Indonesia by, among other things, respecting Indonesian laws."

Antara news agency reported from Denpasar on Friday that Bali Police chief Brig. Gen. Wayan Ardjana refused to release three Italian women arrested for possession of narcotics as requested by Italian Ambassador to Indonesia Alessandro Merola.

Ardjana said on Friday that the three were waiting for trial.

According to Antara, the ambassador was in Bali on Friday to meet the governor and Bali Police chief to settle the case.

The three, Vinzenza Delia (35), Claudia Fontanarosa (28) and Pilar Sunjust (23) were arrested at a party with nine other foreigners in a raid in the Krobokan area, some five kilometers north of Kuta in August.

The other foreigners are French and Swedish nationals.

The officers found 10.2 grams of hashish stashed in the bungalow's refrigerator, 2.5 grams of cocaine on a table and another 0.5 grams of hashish in one of the foreigner's jacket. (zen/sur)