What do you think of Indonesia jailing the Australian?
 

That Tsunami aid money and those resort bookings from down under and the West may start running thin....

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http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapc...eal/index.html

Fury at Bali drugs verdict

Friday, May 27, 2005 Posted: 6:51 AM EDT (1051 GMT)

(CNN) -- Many Australians reacted with anger and shock after a Queensland woman they believe is innocent was found guilty of smuggling drugs into Bali and sentenced to 20 years' jail.

On Friday Indonesian judges found Schapelle Corby "legally and convincingly" guilty of smuggling marijuana into Bali in a case that has generated unprecedented interest among Australians and a diplomatic balancing act for the nation's leader.

The 27-year-old beauty therapist, who has been held in a Bali jail since her arrest on 8 October last year, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined 100 million rupiah ($10,700) on Friday.

She was arrested at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar after 4.1 kilograms (9 pounds) of marijuana were found concealed in her boogie board bag.

The case has galvanized public opinion in Australia, with a recent survey showing 90 percent thought Corby was innocent, believing her defense argument that the drugs found in her possession were planted by baggage handlers in Australia.

Corby's defense team was buoyed by news Australian Federal Police and Qantas Airways were investigating the role of baggage handlers in a cocaine smuggling operation.

But on Friday chaotic scenes broke out as the guilty verdict was read, with Corby's family and supporters yelling out from the back of the court that "Schapelle is innocent."

Corby, who had largely maintained her composure during the two hour proceedings, pleaded with her family to calm down before turning to her mother, mouthing the words: "It's OK mum. I'm alright."

With tears streaming down her face Corby then slapped her head with her hands before being allowed to embrace her visibly distressed parents and sister.

Corby was led from the court room surrounded by a wall of security as they struggled to move her through a massive press contingent that had converged on the Denpasar court house to cover the verdict.

Outside the court Corby's sister Mercedes said the family would appeal the verdict.

"This is not fair. We will get Schapelle home."

Her financial backer Australian businessman Ron Bakir described the verdict as "a massive injustice," and said he would do whatever it took to get her home.

Many callers to radio talk shows in Australia were incensed, and some said they regretted making donations to Indonesian tsunami victims, The Associated Press reported. Others called for Australians to boycott Bali.

Even before the sentence, there were calls for Australians to boycott the popular holiday destination of Bali and to ban Indonesian products.

Prime Minister John Howard said he understood why Australians felt so deeply about the Corby case.

"The fact that we are a nation whose young travel so much, it is an issue that has touched this country very directly," he said.

Trying to keep a fragile relationship with Jakarta intact, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said any criticism of Indonesia or its justice system would be counterproductive and reflect very badly on Australia.

The Australian government had already provided substantial financial support to Corby's cause, he said, and additional legal support had been offered for any appeal.
Dismissed key evidence

The panel of three judges dismissed key evidence prepared by her defense team, including that of Australia prisoner John Ford who backed Corby's claim that she was an unwitting "drug mule."

The judges found Corby's defense team could not prove if there was another person responsible for the drugs.

"The defendant has been proven legally and convincingly guilty" a translator quoted the judges as saying on Sky News.

"We've found that drugs were imported into Indonesia. Importation is illegal in Indonesia and it occurred at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar. This occurred without a licence or any permit to do so. It may not be done by anyone."

"She has been unrepentant to this. It is found the defendant is responsible for the narcotics and this should be considered when handing down the judgment."

Security was stepped up around the Bali courthouse Friday morning with more than 100 officers guarding the building amid concerns of a terror threat.

Already the case has triggered a series of threats against Indonesian diplomatic missions in Australia and Indonesia.

A team of Australian officials will head to Indonesia within the next ten days to discuss a prisoner transfer agreement between the two countries that would see Corby serve her sentence in Australia.

Corby has always maintained her innocence.

During her trial Corby maintained that she was the victim of a drug trafficking operation involving baggage handlers at Australian airports.

if you find my bag of weed, please let me know...


http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=473238

let that shitty country rot the next time a disaster strikes it

The judge definately needs to get a clue, he totally dismissed key information and witnesses from what I read.

Greg, bit harsh? I'm sure there are good people in Indonesia. :)

Sup Cory :)

That's a massive case here in Australia, receiving much attention.

Most people think she's innocent - but this is really based on the fact that she is viewed as quite pretty by most australians, and doesn't look like your average drug smuggler.

We got lots of other australian in other contries accross asia in jail for drug smuggling, but people only care about this case, the fact 90% of ppl believe that the drugs her bags did not belong to her just shows how one sided most people see the case (mind you the media is completely biased on the case)

I don't judge people on their looks, so I'm 50/50 on the case..

And oh yeah Cory.. do you have a twin brother / clone working at the steak house down the road from me?

"During her trial Corby maintained that she was the victim of a drug trafficking operation involving baggage handlers at Australian airports."

It would be up to the australians to get to the bottom of that ... and find/get proof of that ..to get her free ... I can see why she got convicted ... she had the drugs .. with her so it's up to her (Australia) to come with SOLID evidence she didn't put it there ..

Ahh well my 2cents (and i haven't seen a picture of her)

Hopefully another Tsunami will whip out that shit hole country and singapore too all these third world countries should fucking DIE.

They are Sick pieces of Shit over there.

this is what i had to say about in a thread yesterday....

fuck this pisses me off... Abu Bakar Bashir gets 2.5 yrs for masterminding the Bali Bombings which killed a couple of hundred people mostly australian and she gets 20 yrs for a few kilos of dope thats whats fucked up with that country

im want my money back that i gave to those fucks for the tsunami relief

Twenty years for a marijuana offence? Ridiculous.

So you check in your baggage and some unscrupulous airport people hide their drugs in your baggage - how do you prove it isn't so?

Think it's impossible? Just recently the FBI busted several former and current U.S. military and law enforcement personnel involved in a major cocaine trafficking ring:

US Soldiers, Law Officers Snared in Border Drug Sting

If convicted, the maximum time they face is 15 years for their part in the conspiracy, even though they moved millions of dollars of cocaine and other drugs.

Free Schapelle!!!

ADG Webmaster

Haha

I need to make my way down there for some surfing :thumbsup

You know from my previous post that I have a lot of respect for other cultures, so don't read too much into this, but...

Indonesia relies heavily upon Australia and "The West" for tourism and aid. Without aid, the Tsunami death toll is even higher. Without tourism, starvation would run rampant.

They should have turned a blind eye and sent her back to Australia.

As for now, I would say no more travels to Bali. I travel the world, that one is no longer on my list. If I could pull the plug on aid, I would. You reap what you sow.

We don't support all of there laws, but we still send them aid and tourist :)

Quite Harsh on this, don't you think?

I don't have any problem you talked bad about the country where I am from. But wishing to have another Tsunami disaster hit, I don't think that's a noble thing to say my friend.

I don't really care if you call Indonesia a shit hole country, but I do care about the well being of my family and relatives there.

First thing I am curious about is why would you smuggle pot into a country like that? Its an island and I assume would be easier to just grow pot there. At any rate if she did it or not 20 yrs is a helluva alot. If it was me I would have tried and gotten bail and skipped the country lol.

She's hot.

yup, I hear surfing is great

This world has to chill out about Weed Who Cares? Its not like its Herion let her go

respect brother!!! :thumbsup

You get the maximum in these 3rd world countries...even death

Better to face the firing squad than face 20 years of being beaten and raped daily in a filthy Indonesian jail. :(

20 years for marry jane? thats crazy guilty or not

I think she was set up. Its actually cheaper to buy pot once you get to Indonesia than bring it from Australia. Besides that, she was traveling with her whole family. I don't think she'd be so stupid as to enndanger them all.

This story fucking infuriates me.

Say hypothetically the dope was hers. At the VERY worst, give her 6 months to scare her into not doing it again. (Not that I would view even that as fair, but understandably they live by other rules over there in that backassward country).

In this particular situation, there's a good chance that the dope didn't belong to her. Christ, we're talking about POT here anyways, not like its heroin of fucking crystal meth.

Even worse is reading about the defense witness who was going to backup the story of this girl being a mule in the scheme not being allowed into entry for the defense.

Sadly the country is gonna see a LOT of $ lost towards the relief fund, and thats gonna hurt a lot of innocent people. All because of a stupid ignorant grandstanding imbecile judge.

I'm still not 100% on her innocence.. but it's maddeningly ridiculous to see the footage of the airport guard PICKING UP AND CONTAMINATING THE EVIDENCE without gloves or anything.. then REFUSING to do fingerprinting on the inside of the bag.
Ignoring the testimony of the prisoner who overheard other prisoners discussing wo's it actually was - and whilst yes this was hearsay -he was STABBED when he got back in jail from appearing in court.

The baggage handlers CAUGHT using qantas to shift drugs interstate

as well as the whole taking ice to eskimos argument.. who in their right mind takes 50k worth of pot to a place where it sells for 10k? It was obviously meant to be shipped to sydney via a domesetic flight and then wasn't picked up.

Sure.. she could be guilty... i mean i find her very unnatractive... it's not some young girl big boobs thing.. it's just that there is so much room for reasonable doubt it's crazy.. even if thats not part of their system..
And thats disregarding it's pot.. a life sentence or death sentence for fucking weed? And this from one of the most corrupt countries on the face of the plant?

The police caught a bunch of baggage handlers that were smuggling dope in Sydney while her trial was going on. Every Aussie I have spoken to since yesterday has said they will never travel to Indonesia again because of what happened to this girl and the risk of a baggage handler placing dope in your bag.

How many people get off the plane in a foreign country and check the contents of their bags before going thru customs? I never do. Imagine going on holiday and one of your family members or girlfriend gets arrested for dope in their bag that you know was never placed there by any of you.

I won't trust the authorities even if the AU police say they have it under control and can guarantee that your luggage is safe. Not worth the risk!

Yes its a HUGE case here in Australia and the reason is because its so clear that it was NOT her fault and she is a victim.

She has 9 POUNDS of Marijuana worth $42,000+ here in Australia. WHY on gods green earth would she take it to a shithole like Bali where you walk down the street and they try to sell you super cheap ass Marijuana or other druges EVERYWHERE.

I agree if people have Marijuana or cocaine or Heroin and they are bringing it OUT OF BALI or OUT OF SOME shit 3rd world country then they are probably guilty. It makes sence to take CHEAP drugs from Indonisia back to Austraila where its worth 10 x as much as another 9 Australians were just recently caught doing this. But you dont' take it back to Bali makes no sence.

The reason all Austrailans got behind her was the fact that YOU DON'T TAKE $42,000 of Marijuana to a place where its worth more like $2000. And risk jail. There are baggage handles trafficing drugs up and down the country and they had a person they interviewed on TV who went to Bali and opened his baggage in the hotel later after arriving and found a brick of Majajuana in it which he then flushed down the toilet. This shit can happen to anyone.

The fact the judges didn't use common sence and think "whats the point of her bringing this to Bali where the drugs are worthless on the street here while backhome they are expensive" They ignored all that and simple are interested in making an example out of her just like all other forgieners caught, because they are doing a big anti drug sting across the nation now.

The simple minded monkeys in Bali will have a HUGE drop in Australian Holiday people coming to their country. Every Australian i've talked to will not visit Bali after this shit has gone down.

3rd world countrys I guess you can't expect real justice, when monkeys are making the laws and enforcing them.

I had a tears build up in my eyes when I saw her life taken away from her yesterday & am truely touched by her situation as are most Australians and we all disgusted how this has gone down. It could of been anyone of us that visited Bali a lot.

Disgusted by the verdict and just hope they can get a pardon by the President of Bali but not holding my breath.

Matt

yeah, that's what I was thinking, who would smuggle shit IN to a place like that?

Yup total BS, they can suck my cock next time they ask me for donations to any relief over there. Fair enough she may be guilty thats not for me to decide, but the head judge having a siesta mid court case where they were reading out the findings. And he had no interpertor and couldnt understand a word of it. Yeah thats a fair system, and also not fingerprinting the bag the weed was in, ffs what sort of policeing is that?

-N

Can anyone who is a serious pot smoker and who has been to Bali tell me about the availability and price of hydroponically grown pot there?

I'm not buying the story that Indonesian weed is as good as sticky indoor buds.

You can always tell the non-smokers by their ignorance of marijuana.

Just saw the clip on the news ...

It is sad, but I really can't have an opinion since I am not aware of the facts, like all you guys are ...

One thing for sure, donèt connect with dope when in Indonesia, Burmania, Thailand and a few others...

Penalty goes from the 20 years, passing by 20 years plus public caning to death penalty ...

Needless to say, the gov use this case to set an example and warning ....

yeah but you know very well in a foreign country like that in a tourist market the quality of the pot isn't as important to sellers. It's not like your local dealer who's going to get a bad rep or a bunch of guys around angry at being ripped off. It's a whole lot of one offs by people who are never going to be seen again.. and besides EVERY DEALER will tell you the shit is A grade and worth "xx an ounce" .. "it's not leaf man - it's tip"! hehe worse than porn sites i tells ya :)

they should cut her head off and release it on the internet!

My theory is this: She either knew a grower or someone close to her did (family?). She figured she could pay for her holiday and even come back with a fair bit of money in her pocket. The shit was vacuum sealed and fit perfectly into the boogie board bag. It's too neat.

I just don't buy the story that this was baggage handlers. Why put the shit on a plane between Brisbane and Sydney with all the security cameras when you could drive it down just as easily and with less risk. Personally, I think she's a fucking idiot who didn't think and now she's paying the price.

I would also like to say that I think 20 years is bullshit for a dope conviction - even nine pounds worth - but she took the risk and now she's paying the price.

Very Very Scary !!!!!

The world is fucked up. Guilty or innocent, it doesn't matter. She got screwed. Drugs and Prostitution should be legal everywhere.

Why would anyone want to travel to countries where the laws are so severe? Who knows what will be placed in your luggage by strangers. It is a very sad statement that terrorists are applauded in many countries, and one little woman found with some pot gets 20 years. :(

well, i think the real root of the problem here is the fact that westerners are really hated in these 3rd world nations and this is why evidence in her defense was not allowed in the trial. I don't want to be anywhere that I'm hated so I won't be traveling to any of these places.

Indonesia is not like the western world with civil rights and "fair trials" like we are used to.

Isn't there an US porn filmmaker being held in a Panamanian jail right now for nothing? I thought I read about that somewhere.

I agree, it doesn't make sense to carry 42k of pot to sell for maybe 2k in the third world. A loss of 40 grand? What drug smuggler is that dumb? plus the stuff can be easily grown in those climates.

drug charges are stupid... 20 years for pot? give me a break

Another idiot who doesn't smoke pot who thinks he's an expert on a subject he clearly knows nothing about.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

:pimp

oh well you do the crime you do the time


she smuggled it , no way was it some "australian bag handlers ring"

I'll tell you one thing, 80% of tourists in Bali are Australian, and just about everyone there relies on tourism. I knew heaps of Australians who loved going to Bali, who where planning on going Bali, etc but not one now wants to travel there. All I can say is suck shit to the dickheads.

By the way, to put things in perspective the guy who was the mastermind behind the Bali bombings (the leader) got 4 years in jail! I guess Bali is fucked anyway!