'He's a big softie': Model and 'best friend' of nightclub promoter arrested in Bali fears the worst if he ends up behind bars for 12 years in Indonesia's toughest jail
- William Cabantog, 35, and David Van Iersel, 38, arrested on Saturday in Bali
- Pair were allegedly found in an office of a nightclub with cocaine
- Cabantog's best friend Nyssa Large said she fears for the Melbourne man
- The young model called him a 'big softie' who is 'fun-loving, genuine and caring'
- They have been friends for ten years with Instagram posts praising each other
A model and best friend of a nightclub promoter arrested in Bali fears for his safety after he was allegedly caught with cocaine, saying he's a 'big softie'.
William Cabantog, 35, was arrested on Saturday during raids of homes and nightclubs in the resort village of Canggu, along with his co-accused David Van Iersel, 38.
Cabantog's best friend, Melbourne model Nyssa Large, said she is terrified at the prospect of him being jailed in an Indonesian prison for 12 years if convicted.
William Cabantog (right), 35, was arrested on Saturday during raids of homes and nightclubs in the resort village of Canggu. His best friend Nyssa Large (left) says he's 'a bit softie'
Cabantog's best friend, Melbourne model Nyssa Large, said she is terrified at the prospect of him being jailed in an Indonesian prison for 12 years if convicted
Ms Large said everyone who knows the 35-year-old says he is a 'fun-loving, genuine, caring person'
Ms Large said everyone who knows the 35-year-old says he is a 'fun-loving, genuine, caring person'.
'He is a big softie as well, which is why what's happened is really horrible,' she told the Herald Sun.
'The scenario that he is in ... it is really unfortunate that it has all happened.'
The young model believes her friend would be 'distressed' and she fears for his mental health and 'what could happen to him' behind bars.
'Obviously it is not like Australia,' she said in reference to Indonesia's approach to drugs.
William Cabantog (right), 35, and David Van Iersel, 38 (left) were allegedly found in an office of the Lost City nightclub
Cabantog was a Melbourne nightclub promoter before moving to Bali.
His Instagram account shows him dining and swimming with friends in Indonesia during the past year, with one in February praising Ms Large for being his friend for more than ten years.
'My bestie, my sister from another mister, my rock, my world, my everything,' he wrote, accompanied by an image of the friends together.
'Still the most down to earth genuine loving and supportive person in my life. You girl are my spirit animal and will love you for ever and ever.'
Cabantog moved to Bali late last year because he wanted to get out from being 'stuck in an office doing paperwork'
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'Some days you wake up go to work and realise you are truly blessed to have an amazing job and be surrounded by beautiful people,' he wrote to Instagram in January.
Denpasar police drug crime unit boss Mikael Hutabarat alleged that Cagantog and Van Iersel were found in an office of the Lost City nightclub, along with cocaine, and allegedly later returned positive urine tests.
'In many place we have information, say two people bring cocaine so we catch them,' the policeman told the Nine Network in broken English on Tuesday.
He said the men were being 'cooperative and they give one initial name for us to investigate'.
The young model believes her friend would be 'distressed' and she fears for his mental health and 'what could happen to him' behind bars
Ms Large said everyone who knows the 35-year-old says he is a 'fun-loving, genuine, caring person'
William Cabantog (right), 35, and David Van Iersel, 38 (left) were arrested in Bali
The name is believed to be that of a drug supplier.
Wearing orange prison clothes and shackled at the wrists and ankles, Cabantog and Van Iersel were paraded before a media pack on Tuesday.
Accompanying police posed with bags of cocaine and scales which they will use as evidence against the men, along with CCTV footage.
A police statement said the men were arrested with 1.12 grams of cocaine and they faced prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years if found guilty.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the arrests on Monday.
'We stand ready to offer consular assistance... should they request it,' the statement said.
Indonesian policemen present Australians William Cabantog and David Van Iersel to journalists
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