Consular officers in Bali are providing ongoing assistance to accused drug smuggler Michael Sacatides, a spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said today.

The Sydney man, who has reportedly been living in Bangkok for the past 22 months, was arrested in Bali on Friday, reportedly carrying 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. The 43-year-old will not appear in court for some time if he is declared a suspect, the editor from The Bali Times said.

The editor from The Bali Times told Neos Kosmos that Mr Sacatides is still being questioned by police and that Interpol is now involved to try and track down an Indian man in Bangkok who Mr Sacatides claims loaned him the drug-ridden suitcase.

Consular officers visited Mr Sacatides in custody after he was arrested on Friday October 1, and spoke to him by telephone on Wednesday October 6. They are scheduled to meet with Mr Sacatides again today (Thursday 7 October).

Consular officers in Canberra are also providing assistance to the man’s family in Australia.

Bali police confirmed that Mr Sacatides is being investigated for importing, exporting and possession of a category 1 drug, a DFAT spokesperson said, adding that police can detain the man for an initial 20-day period while investigating the case. Bali police advise that charges will be laid after the investigation period is over.

Mr Sacatides is in regular contact with his lawyer, Erwin Siregar, who is also the defence lawyer for convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.

Mr Siregar told the media that his client assured him the drugs found in his luggage were not his. “He said to me, ‘Erwin, 1000 per cent this is not mine and I don’t know (about) these drugs,’ ” Mr Siregar told reporters after visiting his client in jail.

The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it had no prior knowledge of the issue and was not involved in the man’s arrest, a DFAT spokesperson said.