Michelle Leslie

Last updated

Michelle Leslie
Born1981 (age 4142)
Adelaide, South Australia
NationalityAustralian
Other namesMichelle Lee
Occupation(s) Model, interior designer

Michelle Leslie (born 1981), who previously worked under the name Michelle Lee, is an Australian interior designer and former model. Leslie gained prominence as a catwalk model in 2000, working for stores including David Jones. That same year, she was a finalist on the television series Search for a Supermodel and the runner-up for Miss World Australia.

Contents

In 2005, Leslie was arrested in Bali after police reported discovering two ecstasy tablets in her handbag. She was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Upon returning to Australia, Leslie stated police had planted the drugs in her bag and then demanded a US$25,000 bribe to avoid going to prison, which she could not afford to pay. While in custody, Leslie dressed in Islamic clothing, stating she did so to shield herself from both the media and sexual assault from corrections officers. The decision faced a backlash from some Muslims, who accused her of using Islam as a stunt to gain the court's favour. Leslie's arrest and her choice of clothing in custody resulted in considerable attention from the Australian media.

After returning to Australia, Leslie travelled to Cambodia to help raise money for local orphanages. She returned to the catwalk in Australia in 2006, but struggled to find regular work as a model following the publicity from her arrest. In 2007, she launched a line of clothing for dogs, and the following year, began a career as an interior designer.

Early career

Michelle Leslie was born in Adelaide, South Australia, to Albert and Violeta Leslie. [1] Violeta was a nurse and one of 12 siblings born in the Philippines. Albert played for the Australian basketball team, and met Violeta while on a layover in the Philippines before travelling to the Olympics. Violeta emigrated to Australia, [2] and Albert went on to become an assistant coach to the Adelaide 36ers. [3] A self-confessed tomboy when young, Leslie was educated at Sacred Heart College in Adelaide, and became interested in modelling only after her father gave her a course at a modelling school as a 15th birthday present. [3] [4] She enjoyed it enough to undertake a second course, and shortly thereafter left school in order to pursue a full-time modelling career. [4] She soon emerged as one of the "most prominent catwalk and catalogue models" in Adelaide, [5] working for stores such as David Jones, Harris Scarfe and Myer. [2] [6] [7]

In 2000, she appeared as one of the 20 finalists in the first series of the Australian Search for a Supermodel reality show, and was first runner-up in the 2000 Miss World Australia pageant held in Darwin. [1] [3] She was "catapulted on to the international catwalk" when Asian Australian models became in demand. As a result, she gained work within Asia, appearing under the name "Michelle Lee". [3] She also moved to New York temporarily in 2003 for modelling opportunities. [8] Off the catwalks she gained prominence as one of the two models involved in a 2004 advertising campaign for Antz Pantz underwear and, prior to this, as the face of the Crystelle lingerie brand. [9]

Arrest and trial

On 21 August 2005, Leslie was travelling in a vehicle to an open-air dance party at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park on the Indonesian island of Bali. Police stopped the vehicle and reported discovering two pills in Leslie's handbag. [8] Forensic tests subsequently found the pills to be the drug ecstasy. Urine tests conducted at the time of her arrest showed no evidence of the use of the drug; a later blood test found traces of amphetamines. [8] [10] According to Indonesian police, Leslie stated the pills were given to her by a friend, "Mia". Mia was later revealed to be Nameera Azmaan, who was also a model based in Singapore and working for Chic Management, the same agency Leslie worked for. Leslie denied making the allegation, and Azmaan also denied any involvement. [11] Leslie denied other statements attributed to her by police reports, including that she had been taking ecstasy for a year and could not enjoy parties without it. [12] Police reports also stated she declared her religion as Christianity upon her arrest. [13]

According to Balinese newspapers, Leslie was arrested while in the company of a son of the then Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie and two unidentified men, one said to be the son of a man with "strong influence in the law and justice system". Police gave "vague and contradicting" reports regarding who Leslie was with when she was arrested, with media alleging this was an attempt to protect their identities. [14] Leslie was one of five people arrested by police during their raid that night; [8] according to Leslie's lawyers, two of the people arrested quickly bribed their way out of any further trouble. [15]

The incident marked the third arrest of Australians in Bali on drugs charges in twelve months following the Schapelle Corby and Bali Nine cases, [16] and resulted in considerable media attention. [2] Her arrest prompted then Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer to warn Australians about the dangers of drug possession while travelling in Asia, [8] and led then Australian Prime Minister John Howard to comment that Australians caught with drugs "can't expect the Government to bail them out." [17]

In October 2005, it was reported that Leslie's lawyers had provided a report from a Sydney doctor stating that Leslie was addicted to prescription medication. Under Indonesian law this would allow her to be tried as a "user"; the maximum sentence for a user is three months' imprisonment, whereas the maximum penalty for possession is 15 years. [18] Leslie was tried in the Denpasar District Court, and was found guilty of using a prohibited substance on 18 November. She was ordered to pay court costs and sentenced to three months in jail but, due to the three months already spent in custody, [19] was freed from Kerobokan Prison on 19 November. She was deported from the country due to her conviction. Leslie flew out of Bali to Singapore, where she spent time with friends and family before returning to Sydney. [20]

Return to Australia

Professor Catharine Lumby, then head of media studies at the University of Sydney, said many Australians would have sympathy for Leslie, and predicted she would be highly sought out by companies for modelling after returning to Australia, as she would be perceived as a "cult figure". [21] Leslie declined to sell her story upon her return to Australia, on the grounds she believed she would face further criticism for profiting from the ordeal. She instead gave unpaid interviews to 60 Minutes [22] and New Idea , the latter of whom donated money to a Cambodian orphanage she was raising funds for; [23] Leslie received an AU$70,000 payment from New Idea for an interview while she was still in prison prior to being convicted. [24]

In the 60 Minutes interview, Leslie professed her innocence, noting that she had been detained for several minutes at the police road block and would have had plenty of time to better conceal or throw away two ecstasy tablets. She instead freely gave her handbag to police on request, whom she accused of planting the drugs and then demanding a US$25,000 bribe to make the charges disappear. [22] Leslie believes police targeted her on the belief she was wealthy and well connected because she was a model; her parents had to mortgage their home to help pay her legal fees, which came close to AU$300,000. Leslie states police tampered with her blood to make it test positive for drugs in front of her and her lawyer, and mocked her when she protested. Her lawyer subsequently advised her to plead guilty, saying that such tactics were commonly used by police in Bali and she would likely spend 15 years in prison if she maintained her innocence. [22]

Islam controversy

During her incarceration, Leslie announced through a spokesman that she had converted to the Islamic faith eighteen months prior to her arrest. [25] Leslie chose to wear a burqa on one occasion when she appeared in court, and opted to wear Islamic dress, such as a hijab, until she was released. Her conversion and choice of dress sparked debate among Australian Muslims, some of whom accused her of using Islam as a stunt to gain the court's favour. [21] Her lawyer offered an apology to any Muslims who were offended, saying that Leslie had worn the clothes to avoid unwanted attention from the prison guards and journalists. [25] Professor Tim Lindsey, then director of the Asian Law Centre at the University of Melbourne, stated that wearing Islamic clothing would make no sense as a legal defence, as Indonesian prisons were full of "Muslims convicted by Muslims". [10] Criticism also emerged when she was seen wearing tight-fitting clothing on her departure from the prison. [21] After her release Leslie stated she had no regrets regarding how she conducted herself in prison, though apologised for any offence caused by wearing the burqa. [26]

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils initially stated they had no problem with Leslie being a Muslim; [25] their president Ameer Ali recommended that she refrain from returning to her former career as "a model for lingerie and underwear" after returning to Australia, as such behaviour was "not allowed in Islam". [27] In the 60 Minutes interview, Leslie stated she wore Islamic clothing because she was afraid of being sexually assaulted by male prison guards, and to protect herself when she faced the media. When asked if she had even been a Muslim, she replied "Yeah, but I don't really know what makes you or not makes you a Muslim. I'm not a practising Muslim, no." [22] Following the 60 Minutes interview, Leslie's former friend Norah Cullen told journalists Leslie fabricated the story about being a Muslim, and only wore the burqa to conceal her face from the media. Cullen, a Muslim herself, had previously told journalists Leslie's conversion to Islam was genuine. [24]

Later career

Upon her return to Australia, Leslie left her then modelling agency, Chic Management, to sign with Max Markson. [23] Shortly thereafter she travelled to Cambodia to help raise money for the charity Krousar Thmey, meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni and spending time in local orphanages. [23] [28] Leslie arrived back in Australia shortly before Australian Fashion Week, and returned to the catwalk there for the first time in April 2006, modelling swimwear for designer Michael Azzollini. [29]

Leslie had several modelling jobs after returning to Australia, but struggled to find steady work as a model. In 2007, she launched a range of clothing for dogs, "Miyow & Barkley". Working with her friend Traci Griffith, they experienced early success when their first range of clothing and accessories sold out shortly after being launched. [30] [31] [32] In 2008 she launched an interior design business, Michelle Leslie Studio, which she was still running as of December 2018. [2]

Personal life

In September 2003, Leslie began a relationship with Scott Sutton, heir to the Suttons Holden chain of Holden dealerships in Sydney. [33] [34] Leslie separated from Sutton in July 2007, and began dating magazine publisher Adam Zammit the following month. [31] Leslie and Zammit were married in New Zealand in October 2012, but separated two years later. [35] In October 2016 she met singer Daniel Johns via a mutual friend. Following months of media speculation as to whether they were dating, the couple went public with their relationship in July 2017. [36]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Bali bombings</span> Terrorist attack in Indonesia

The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack killed 202 people. A further 209 people were injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta</span>

The Australian embassy bombing in Jakarta took place on September 9, 2004 in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taj El-Din Hilaly</span> Egyptian imam

Taj El-Din Hamid Hilaly, is a former imam of Lakemba Mosque in Sydney and an Australian Sunni Muslim leader. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils appointed him Mufti of Australia in 1988. He referred to himself as the Grand Mufti of Australia and New Zealand, although this title was not unanimously endorsed, and has also been described by some Muslims as honorary, rather than substantial. After a series of controversial statements on social issues, Hilaly retired from this position in June 2007 and was succeeded by Fehmi Naji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Wood (born 1980)</span> Australian schoolgirl

Anna Victoria Wood was an Australian teenager who died after consuming an ecstasy tablet at a rave party in inner Sydney. Her cause of death was hypoxic encephalopathy, following acute water intoxication secondary to ingestion of MDMA.

Schapelle Leigh Corby is an Australian woman who was convicted of smuggling cannabis into Indonesia. She spent nine years imprisoned on the Indonesian island of Bali in Kerobokan Prison. Since her arrest Corby has publicly maintained that the drugs were planted in her bodyboard bag and that she did not know about them. Her trial and conviction were a major focus of attention for the Australian media.

The Bali Nine were a group of nine Australians convicted for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kg (18 lb) of heroin out of Indonesia in April 2005. The heroin was valued at around A$4 million and was bound for Australia. Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death and executed on 29 April 2015. Six other members, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush and Martin Stephens, were sentenced to life imprisonment and another, Renae Lawrence, to a 20-year sentence but was released after the sentence was commuted in November 2018. The Indonesian authorities reported on 5 June 2018 that Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen had died of stomach cancer.

Renae Lawrence is an Australian woman who was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine.

{{Short description|Australian ( drug mule }

Matthew James Norman is an Australian man who was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, Norman was arrested in a room at the Melasti Hotel in Kuta together with three others. Police uncovered 334 g (11.8 oz) of heroin in a suitcase in the room. After a criminal trial, on 15 February 2006 Norman was sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court to have the sentence reduced suffered a shock when the Supreme Court imposed the death penalty on 6 September 2006. A subsequent appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court, following a full confession by Norman to his role in the plan to import heroin from Bali to Australia, resulted in the original sentence of life imprisonment being reinstated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myuran Sukumaran</span> Australian drug trafficker

Myuran Sukumaran was an Australian who was convicted in Indonesia of drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, Sukumaran was arrested in a room at the Melasti Hotel in Kuta with eight others. Police found 334 g (11.8 oz) of heroin in a suitcase in the room. According to court testimonies of convicted drug mules, Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were the co-ringleaders of the heroin-smuggling operation from Indonesia to Australia. After a criminal trial, Sukumaran was sentenced on 14 February 2006 by the Denpasar District Court to execution by firing squad.

Scott Anthony Rush is an Australian former labourer, who was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, on his first trip to Bali, Rush was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar with 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) of heroin concealed on his body. After a criminal trial, on 13 February 2006, Rush was sentenced to life imprisonment. After appealing against the severity of the sentence, in a surprise outcome handed down by the Bali High Court on 6 September 2006, Rush's sentence was changed to the death penalty. On 10 May 2011, Rush's death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment on appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Chan</span> Australian drug trafficker

Andrew Chan (Chinese: ; Jyutping: Can4 Zi2 Wai4; 12 January 1984 – 29 April 2015) was an Australian man who was convicted and executed in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, Chan was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar. According to court testimonies of convicted drug mules, Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were the co-ringleaders of the heroin smuggling operation from Indonesia to Australia. After a criminal trial on February 14, 2006, Chan was sentenced to execution by firing squad by the Denpasar District Court.

Michael William Czugaj an Australian former glazier from Oxley, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, Czugaj was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar with 1.75 kg (3.9 lb) of heroin concealed on his body. After a criminal trial on 14 February 2006 Czugaj was sentenced to life imprisonment. His life sentence was reduced to a term of 20 years on appeal on 26 April 2006, but reinstated five months later.

Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen was a Vietnamese–Australian citizen. He was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, Nguyen was arrested in a room at the Melasti Hotel in Kuta together with three others. Police uncovered 334 g (11.8 oz) of heroin in a suitcase in the room. After a criminal trial, on 15 February 2006 Nguyen was sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court to have the sentence reduced suffered a shock when the Supreme Court imposed the death penalty on 6 September 2006.

Si Yi Chen is a Chinese–Australian criminal who was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, Chen was arrested in a room at the Melasti Hotel in Kuta together with three others. Police uncovered 334 g (11.8 oz) of heroin in a suitcase in the room. After a criminal trial, on 15 February 2006 Chen was sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court to have the sentence reduced suffered a shock when the Supreme Court imposed the death penalty on 6 September 2006. A subsequent appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court, following a full confession by Chen to his role in the plan to import heroin from Bali to Australia, resulted in the original sentence of life imprisonment being reinstated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakemba Mosque</span> Mosque in Australia

The Lakemba Mosque, also known as the Masjid Ali Bin Abi Talib and officially the Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque, is Australia's largest mosque. It was the first purpose-built mosque in Sydney and is located at 71-75 Wangee Road, Lakemba. Owned and managed by the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), Lakemba Mosque and the LMA offices are situated contiguously at the same address.

Judith Maryanne Moran is the matriarch of the Moran criminal family of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, involved in the Melbourne gangland killings.

The 2007 hitman case is an Australian criminal case involving Steven Wayne Spaliviero and Swede Charlotte Karin Lindström. Lindström is so far the only one sentenced for the crime. Spaliviero served 11 years in prison and was released October 2017, but was never charged for the hitman case. The hitman case has been widely reported by media in Australia and Scandinavia.

Maddison Gabriel is an Australian model who gained notoriety when, at the age of 12, she was controversially named the face of the 2007 Gold Coast Fashion Week.

References

  1. 1 2 "Supreme Model Revealed". The Advertiser . 22 November 2000. p. 51.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Fonseca, Nicholas (1 December 2018). "Michelle Leslie: I've Been Judged By Everyone in Australia" . The Daily Telegraph .
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bockmann, Michelle Wiese (23 August 2005). "Exotic features made Leslie the ant's pants". The Australian . p. 3.
  4. 1 2 Craig, Marina (12 November 2000). "Were they really model children, too?". Sunday Mail . p. 114.
  5. "Young, Diverse and Taking South Australia to the Top". The Advertiser . 19 February 2000. p. 5.
  6. "Search on for models". The Advertiser . 19 March 2000. p. 42.
  7. Craig, Marina (2 March 2003). "Homecoming for Michelle". The Advertiser . p. 5.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Aussie model could face jail". The Sydney Morning Herald . 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  9. Devlin, Rebekah; Rowe, Elizabeth; Caruso, Carla; Jellicoe, Naomi (28 December 2004). "Billboard beauty wants a TV career". The Advertiser . p. 22.
  10. 1 2 Forbes, Mark (1 September 2005). "Traces of ecstasy 'found in model's blood'". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  11. "'Mia' denies planting Leslie pills". The Sydney Morning Herald . 23 November 2005. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  12. Gibson, Jano (25 August 2005). "Model 'admits ecstasy addiction'" . The Sydney Morning Herald .
  13. "Four days to find Allah". Herald Sun . 17 April 2006. Archived from the original on 21 April 2006.
  14. McMahon, Neil (6 November 2005). "Leslie 'was with son of Indonesian minister'". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  15. "Leslie media deal sparks outrage". Ninemsn News. 21 November 2005. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  16. Ham, Paul (28 August 2005). "Model faces 15 years in jail for having two ecstasy tablets". The Sunday Times . Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  17. Grattan, Michelle; Forbes, Mark (24 August 2005). "We won't bail you out, Howard warns users". The Age . Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  18. Forbes, Mark (14 October 2005). "Leslie may be free in weeks". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2005.
  19. "Guilty Leslie set to walk free". News.com.au . 18 November 2005. Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
  20. "Leslie gives media the slip". The Sydney Morning Herald . 20 November 2005. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2005.
  21. 1 2 3 "Bumper pay day looms for Leslie". The Sydney Morning Herald . 21 November 2005. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Hayes, Liz (4 June 2006). "The price of freedom (transcript)". 60 Minutes . Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  23. 1 2 3 "Model Leslie visits Cambodian orphanage". The Age . 18 April 2006. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  24. 1 2 Forbes, Mark (17 June 2006). "Leslie's confidant lifts the veil" . The Sydney Morning Herald .
  25. 1 2 3 "Model's lawyers apologise to Muslims". The Age . 30 August 2005. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  26. "Leslie refuses to tell her Bali story". The Age . 26 November 2005. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  27. "Leslie told to change or renounce Islam". The Age . 21 November 2005. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2005.
  28. "The king and I: Michelle Leslie". The Sydney Morning Herald . 10 April 2006. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  29. Huntington, Patty (19 April 2006). "Model prisoner back on catwalk". The Age . Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  30. Moran, Jonathon (15 April 2007). "Michelle Leslie's dogged saviour". The Sunday Telegraph . Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  31. 1 2 Moran, Jonathon (12 August 2007). "Leslie splits with partner". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  32. "Leslie distraught over split with Holden heir". The Sydney Morning Herald . 17 August 2007.
  33. "I idolise her: drug case model's partner tells". The Age . 10 September 2005. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  34. "Boyfriend's money will just make it worse for Michelle". The Age . 4 September 2005. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  35. "Adam Zammit and Michelle Leslie split up after two years of marriage". The Daily Telegraph . 18 September 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  36. "Daniel Johns finally spotted in public with convicted drug offender girlfriend Michelle Leslie". News.com.au . 31 July 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.