Model Michelle Leslie busted with drugs

Top model Michelle Leslie, who made her name promoting undies and skimpy outfits down the catwalk, is now behind bars in Bali after a drug bust. She had arrived in Bali the day before from Singapore, where she had been modelling under the name Michelle Lee.

Leslie was arrested at the entrance of an all-night dance party on 20 Aug in Bali for allegedly having two ecstasy tablets in her Gucci handbag.

When she appeared in public the day after her arrest, she was shrouded in a Balinese-style cotton sarong to hide her face from photographers.

Recently she emerged from jail wearing black pants and a black shirt under a flowing black burqa that covered her from head to toe.

The outfit is commonly worn in Middle-Eastern countries, but unusual in Indonesia. Bali is predominantly Hindu. According to her family's spokesman, the model has declared herself a strict Muslim during her 10 days in jail for alleged drug possession. Sean Mulcahy declined to say when she converted.

Leslie's Australian lawyer, Ross Hill, had earlier told the paper that the veil was merely intended to shield her from media attention.

Leslie, covered up head to toe after her drug arrest

"That (the outfit) is just something that we all thought about just to keep her covered, you know, we're just trying to keep things down," he said.

The head of the Indonesian Council of Islamic scholars in Bali, Mr Hasan Ali, told The Australian that everybody was free to practise religion as they saw fit.

"But if it's a lie, it's a sin," he said of reports of the model's conversion.

Leslie, who is of Australian and Filipino descent, is the face of major Australian underwear brand Antz Pantz and regularly models lingerie and swimwear.

Last year, she appeared in one magazine only in body paint. Leslie faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted of possession of a psychotropic drug.