In August 2023, we were contacted by our client’s wife, who told us that our client – an Australian citizen – had been admitted into a mental health and drug rehabilitation facility in Indonesia against his will.

Despite great difficulties, we made urgent contact with our client, who confirmed that he was admitted involuntarily into the facility as part of a set up by an uncle with whom he was involved in a property dispute.

We immediately communicated with the Australian Embassy in Indonesia/Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and requested that they provided urgent consular assistance.

However, they were slow in taking action and so we also sent correspondence to the mental health facility as well as the psychiatrist under whose care our client was being held.

Within 24 hours or receiving our correspondence, the facility agreed to discharge our client and he was released shortly thereafter.