"Model breaks silence over Muslim dress - The Age September 7, 2005 - 8:25PM
"Australian model Michelle Leslie has broken her silence to deny suggestions she adopted Muslim garb to win favour with Indonesian police investigating her for alleged drug possession.
In a statement released through a family spokesman, Leslie said her faith was the one thing keeping her from going mad as she wakes each day in her dingy four-by-four metre cell.
She shares the cell with several other female prisoners at Bali police headquarters.
"It upsets me greatly that people think I am trying to manipulate the system," the 24-year-old said.
"Religion is helping me stay centred in the present moment.
How intriguing, Chapelle found God in prison, and Michelle returned to her faith there.
Both claim to find comfort. Why do Athiests, who clearly have not had the experience, dismiss it out of hand?
"You have to find something otherwise your mind just goes crazy.
"Next door, there's a mosque and I hear the call to prayer, the praying five times a day, and when you hear those sounds, it brings some sort of peace.
"I know they're all praying, God's ears must be ringing."
She faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted of drug possession under Indonesia's tough anti-narcotics laws."
There is a strong possibility she will receive a harsher sentence, as the court may take a dim view of someone who claims to be a Muslim, using drugs.
This suggests she is sincere, and who would not want to see any young person turn away from drugs and towards God?
The model is accused of possessing two ecstasy tablets.
"Because I can't leave the cell, my brain is just consistently going and you find you have to have something to focus on, something to help you through this situation and to be okay," she said.
"For me, being a Muslim has really helped me through and that's all I really have to say about it."
Leslie, who says she converted to Islam a year ago, last week started wearing a burqa-like outfit as she was led from her cell to meeting rooms at police headquarters.
She had previously used a sarong around the jail.
The headdress was partly to avoid unwanted attention from the media, prison guards and even her female cell mates, a spokesman said last week.
Leslie, who is of Australian and Philippines heritage, models underwear, swimwear and other clothes.
Last year, she appeared in little more than body paint for a modelling buttignment.
In her statement, she said she has been living with a Muslim family for the last four years.
Before her arrest she stayed in Sydney with business manager Norah Cullen, who has been visiting her every day in prison in the absence of her parents.
"It hurts me that my family is not here but Norah is like one of my family and I'm well taken care of," Leslie said.
"I don't see it necessary to put my family through the pain I see the other prisoners' families experiencing."
She also sent a heartfelt message to millionaire boyfriend Scott Sutton.
"Words cannot describe how much I adore, idolise and love Scott," she said.
"Our relationship has always been rock solid and will continue to be. I know he's deeply hurting for me."
She pleaded with the public not to pbutt judgment on her.
"People shouldn't pbutt judgment until they have walked in my shoes," she said.
"No-one really understands the full situation."
Leslie's lawyers and the prosecution are still waiting on a brief of evidence to be served by police before they can prepare for trial."
Do people really prefer tears and hysteria to this quiet dignity?
