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 veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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 Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4106497 - 04/28/05 10:33 AM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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No Corby intervention: Downer
April 29, 2005
heraldsun.news.com.au
INTERVENING in accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby's Bali court case would be inappropriate and unhelpful, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.
Corby made a last-ditch plea to three Indonesian judges, begging them not to convict her of drug smuggling and saying her only crime had been failing to lock her bag.
The 27-year-old Gold Coast woman is accused of smuggling more than 4kg of marijuana into Bali airport in her unlocked boogie board bag last October.
Mr Downer said if Corby received a sentence that was clearly unreasonable, the Australian government would probably intervene.
But he said it was unhelpful to intervene before the Indonesian court had a chance to reach a judgment.
"When that case is completed, and if she's convicted, there will no doubt be an appeal and once that appeal is resolved then we'll have a look at the situation," Mr Downer told ABC's Lateline program.
"But certainly during the time the case is being heard, it's never going to be appropriate and frankly I don't think would be remotely helpful to an Australian if we started intervening and trying to influence the outcome of the case.
"If there are any anomalies in terms of the justice of the case, in terms of ... the legal procedures, then we would always take those up with the relevant government."
Mr Downer avoided answering a question on whether the outcome of the Corby case could damage Australia-Indonesia relations.
"We haven't had so much complaints about the actual procedures in the court or the way the case has been handled," he said.
"What we've had is ... an expression of view from many people in Australia that they believe that Schapelle Corby is innocent."
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4110224 - 04/29/05 08:26 AM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Corby's plea falls on deaf ears
April 29, 2005
theage.com.au
Schapelle Corby's emotional plea to Indonesian judges to be set free may have fallen on deaf ears.
Corby, facing life in jail for alleged marijuana smuggling, yesterday read a prepared statement to a Bali court declaring her innocence and pleading to be allowed to go home.
The judge who will decide Schapelle Corby's future said last night he would ignore her emotional plea for freedom.
Linton Sirait said her tearful address carried no legal weight, and he would make his decision based solely on the evidence.
Corby held the court enthralled on Thursday as she read her handwritten appeal for mercy, but Mr Sirait did not understand a word, and is still waiting for a translation.
"Not enough - he or she has to prove he or she is not guilty," he told the Nine Network through a translator.
"Every inmate would say I'm not guilty.
"I'm still looking for something that can be related to the law."
In an ominous sign for Corby, Sirait today handed a life jail term to a South African man for heroin dealing.
The federal government is continuing to seek a prisoner transfer agreement with Indonesia, which could allow Corby to serve any jail term she receives at home in Australia.
Australia has sent Indonesia a copy of its prisoner transfer agreement with Thailand, and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today said the government was anxious for a meeting to help progress the deal.
Edited by veggie (04/29/05 12:00 PM)
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4121598 - 05/02/05 12:09 AM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Corby trial prompts Bali boycott threat
2 May 2005 abc.net.au
A Hobart travel agent is threatening to refuse to sell holidays to Bali in protest against the treatment of alleged Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.
Tony Foster, who is also the Mayor of Brighton Council, says he believes the Queensland woman is not receiving a fair trail in Indonesia.
Corby is on trial for allegedly smuggling four kilograms of marijuana into Bali in her boogie board bag.
He says his refusal to sell holiday packages to Bali is his way of making a personal protest against the Indonesian justice system.
"If she is found guilty, I've just taken the stance, the personal stance that I'm not going to sell Bali as a travel destination," he said.
"If people come in and want to go to that type of holiday I will probably suggest Phuket, Fiji, Vanuatu, but if they insist on Bali I'll say, well look there's a travel agent just up the road that will be able to help you."
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4128118 - 05/03/05 02:30 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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$200,000 rumoured for Corby book deal
May 04, 2005 theaustralian.news.com.au
A BOOK deal to tell Schapelle Corby's story is set to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Queenslander fighting drug charges in Indonesia, but she may have to give it all to the federal Government if she is found guilty.
Mobile phone magnate Ron Bakir is negotiating the deal, which is said to be almost finalised at $200,000.
But Attorney-General Philip Ruddock confirmed last night that if Ms Corby were found guilty, proceeds-of-crime legislation designed to stop criminals profiting from their notoriety could apply.
"For the proceeds-of-crime legislation to be invoked it does require a crime to be committed here or overseas, and there are a number of legal and evidentiary issues which would apply and which he will not comment on," a spokeswoman for Mr Ruddock said.
She said Mr Ruddock believed it was too early to talk about whether the federal Government would pursue any profits she might make.
"He feels it would be completely premature and inappropriate to speculate on matters that are still to be determined in a court of law."
Ms Corby is charged with trying to smuggle 4.1kg of high-quality marijuana into Bali from Australia.
The Australian publishing industry is abuzz with talk, but Mr Bakir said: "We definitely have no deal."
"There have been numerous offers from publishers but at this stage there is no signed deal," he said.
"It has nothing to do with me, everything I do is in the interests of Schapelle. All the offers that have been put are for Schapelle."
Mr Bakir is funding Ms Corby's legal battle in the Indonesian courts.
Pan Macmillan publisher Tom Gilliat refused to confirm or deny Pan was in talks or that a deal had been done.
It is understood author and former journalist Patrick Lindsay has been lined up to write the book for Pan.
Another senior industry insider for a rival publisher said they had been negotiating with Bakir through a potential writer for several weeks.
Of the rumoured Pan deal involving Mr Bakir and Lindsay, the source said: "I thought it could have been for more, but $200,000 seems a believable figure. It's in the ballpark. (Bakir) was indicating he had an offer."
Lindsay could not be contacted last night.
Ms Corby's sister, Mercedes Widiartha, said in Bali last night she knew nothing about a book deal. "I don't know what you're talking about."
A friend said Corby currently did not appear at all interested in a book.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4132938 - 05/04/05 01:50 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Eleventh hour letter to judge
05-05-2005 news.com.au
SCHAPELLE Corby has sent 11th-hour handwritten pleas to the chief judge and the chief prosecutor in her trial, begging to go home to Australia to be with her dying father.
Her grandmother died while she was locked up, she wrote in both letters, and she thought seven months in Balinese cells was sufficient punishment for forgetting to lock her body-board bag.
The 27-year-old beauty school student begged chief judge Linton Sirait to consider the evidence of John Patrick Ford, the Victorian prisoner flown to Bali by the Australian Government to testify he had overheard a conversation in jail concerning drug-smuggling in Australian airports.
"Please Mr Judge, find in your heart to take Mr John Ford's testimony into account, also all the evidence and lack of evidence - for your final verdict," Ms Corby wrote.
The two-page letters were delivered, with translations into Indonesian, to Judge Sirait last week, the day after the defence lawyers addressed the court in a final summation. That same day, Ms Corby also read from handwritten notes, her voice breaking and tears streaming down her cheeks.
Ms Corby's interpreter delivered the letters to the judge, and the judge was asked to pass on the second letter to chief prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu. Judge Sirait confirmed he had received the letter.
"Without being told to do it, John Ford's testimony will be considered," he said.
"All testimony from the witnesses, either from the prosecution or the defence, will be considered by the judges. That's certain. Not one element will be overlooked."
Arrested in Bali's Ngurah Rai airport last October, and accused of trying to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Indonesia, Ms Corby is scheduled to appear tomorrow in Bali District Court to hear the prosecutor's rebuttal of the defence's final address.
The prosecution team has already recommended a sentence of life in prison.
In the letter to the chief prosecutor, Ms Corby used a rather brisker tone.
"Both sides of the story don't add up," she wrote.
"Your side with Customs and police working unprofessionally. My side with no help from Australian airports and security."
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Jim
InjectableAmpoule
Registered: 04/07/04
Posts: 19,212
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4134385 - 05/04/05 07:31 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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It may be just me, but Her being crude to the judge is not smart considering she is at the Judges' mercy.
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Use the Fucking Reply To Feature You Lazy Pieces of Shit!
afoaf said:
Jim, if you were in my city, I would let you fuck my wife.
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 motaman
old hand
Registered: 12/18/02
Posts: 5,024
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: Jim]
#4134733 - 05/04/05 08:42 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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I think she is running out of option GJ.. What else do you think she should do?
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http://heffter.org
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: Jim]
#4135167 - 05/04/05 10:10 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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I was thinking the same thing, Jim. I suppose at this point she figures since all the evidence in in, she may as well speak her mind.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4135222 - 05/04/05 10:17 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Hackers attack pro-Corby websites
May 5, 2005 theage.com.au
Websites fighting for the release of accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby are coming under attack from unknown international computer hackers keen to shut down the sites, the operator of a prominent pro-Corby site has told smh.com.au.
Daniel Pocock, who runs www.dontshootschapelle. com, said websites dedicated to Corby had been targeted by hackers.
Indonesian prosecutors are to deliver their final address to the court tomorrow.
Mr Pocock said there were at least 10 sites fighting the campaign.
The hackers are deliberately clogging web servers with denial of service attacks, making it impossible for people to visit the sites, Mr Pocock said.
"All the websites involved in this campaign have been attacked," he said.
"Web servers are designed to handle thousands of visitors an hour. But a denial of service attack is like simulating millions of people visiting the site an hour," he said.
The internet attacks were being traced to Indonesia and Singapore from people who did not know the facts of the case, he said.
"I guess that they probably just assumed that Schapelle is guilty without looking at the facts. Or perhaps they just don't care or maybe they just want to see an execution."
But he said they would not succeed.
"They think they can attack these sites and they can try and stir up trouble but, for every site that comes down, two more Schapelle sites come up," he said.
Meanwhile the operator of pro-Corby site www.schapellecorby. com said he had received vicious personal attacks.
"Intensive personal attacks, website attacks, email attacks, calls to my house, abuse, obscene language, threats, insults and otherwise degrading comments have been made towards me," a notice on his now closed website says.
The operator, who lists his name as "Ben aka coolaussie", said he had shut down the site because, "I am unable to verify the relationship to the Corby Family of ANY website claiming to be raising funds or selling products on their behalf."
Mr Pocock, who says he has the support of Corby's cousin, Shonnea Nicol, said traffic to his site had doubled since the shut down of www.schapellecorby. com.
His site receives up to 5000 hits an hour, he said, and, in its first week of operation, more than 20,000 signatures were generated via the site's petition to free Corby.
His site has received more than $4000 in donations, he said.
Donors can decide if they want their contributions given to the Corby family for immediate assistance or put into a reward fund for information leading to Corby's acquittal.
A petition can be downloaded from the site and sent to Corby's family. They will present the petitions to the court before a verdict is handed down.
A NSW pensioner who took the petition to the local supermarket attracted a queue of keen supporters longer than the check-out queue, Mr Pocock said.
Messages of support can also be left at the site. Mr Pocock said messages were printed out by Corby's sister, Mercedes, and shown Corby.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: 27 year old faces death for marijuana [Re: veggie]
#4135331 - 05/04/05 10:36 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Bakir says he's launching 'official' Corby website
May 5, 2005 smh.com.au
The man bankrolling Schapelle Corby's case, Ron Bakir, said he appreciated the good intentions of all the people creating pro-Corby websites.
But he says only one website, which will go online tomorrow, will act as the official fundraising site for the Corby family - http://www.schapellecorby.com.au/.
"There are certain websites who are requesting donations and for the sake of the Corby family we need to ensure that the donations get to the family," he told smh.com.au.
He was unaware that some Corby campaign sites were being attacked but condemned anyone who would do so.
"Whoever does not want to support Schapelle Corby and whoever does not want ot support truth, freedom and justice should not log on to any of these sites," he said.
Corby was struggling to cope in prison in Bali, he said.
"She's emotionally distraught and she just can't wait to get out."
Mr Bakir said he had been contacted by a number of publishers seeking a book deal but nothing had been signed yet.
"There's been offers but there has been no deal done at this stage. The publishers are considering writing about Schapelle's life and that's a matter for them," he said.
He did not want to comment on speculation that offers of $200,000 were being sought for the book.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4137898 - 05/05/05 01:45 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Final submissions for Corby prosecutors
May 6, 2005 news.com.au
INDONESIAN prosecutors will have their final say in Schapelle Corby's drugs trial today after Bali police rejected defence accusations that they bungled their investigation.
Corby's legal team has also criticised comments made by the trial's head judge, who appeared unmoved by Corby's emotional plea of innocence last week.
Bali prosecutor I Bagus Wiswantanu has already called for the 27-year-old Gold Coast woman to be jailed for life for allegedly trying to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali last October.
Today in the Denpasar District Court he will reply to last week's defence call for her acquittal.
Corby's lawyers say that after her arrest at Denpasar airport police failed to fingerprint the boogie board bag that contained the drugs.
Corby has suggested the drugs were put in her bag after she had checked in for the flight to Bali, possibly by a criminal gang operating at Australian airports.
Vasu Rasiah, an adviser to Corby's legal team, said the prosecutor was now trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat and was ignoring key evidence.
The defence team would "definitely" make another submission to the court next week, zeroing in on reports that Bali's top drugs cop Colonel Bambang Sugiarto had acknowleged that the case hadn't been properly investigated.
Sugiarto has rejected defence claims of incompetence. He said if the evidence against Corby had been insufficient, the case would never have gone to trial.
Rasiah also criticised Linton Sirait, the chief judge hearing Corby's case, for saying Corby had not proved her innocence in her emotional statement last week, when she asked the court to free her.
Rasiah said the comments were "amazing" and could lead to an appeal if Corby was found guilty and sentenced to life in jail, as prosecutors have demanded.
With Rasiah's promise of a reply to the prosecutor, a verdict by the court's three-judge panel is now likely by the end of the month, possibly May 26.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4139130 - 05/05/05 06:32 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Corby witnesss 'stabbed in jail'
May 6, 2005 theage.com.au
The Victorian prisoner who gave evidence at Schapelle Corby's trial in Bali has been stabbed in a Victorian jail, his ex-wife said today.
John Patrick Ford, 40, is facing charges of rape, threat to kill, stalking, aggravated burglary and intentionally causing serious injury.
He has been in remand for 14 months. His trial is due to begin on May 13 in the County Court.
Rita Ford said her ex-husband John Ford was slashed on the back by a prisoner using a bladed weapon and had since been placed in solitary confinement for his protection.
Mrs Ford said she believed the attack was related to his high-profile role in the defence of accused drug smuggler Corby in Bali last month.
"He's all right but it has really taken its toll since he came back (from Corby's trial),'' Mrs Ford said.
"It's been really tough mentally and emotionally.
"He's back in solitary confinement now, and that means three-hour lockdowns, one visit a week and one phone call a day.
"It's for his own safety. It's come with what he's done helping out with the (Corby) case over there.''
Ford told a Bali judge that Corby was the victim of a trafficking syndicate that had "lost" 4.1 kilograms of high-grade marijuana after putting it in her bodyboard bag at Brisbane Airport last October.
He said two men who had told him that "somebody else got caught with it and somebody else was going to get done for it".
"There is no way on God's Earth that Miss Corby is a drug trafficker," he said. "My belief in that is so strong that I have put my personal safety at risk over this. I just want to see justice done."
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4139734 - 05/05/05 09:15 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Schapelle Corby arrives in court
May 6, 2005 seven.com.au
Alleged drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has arrived at Denpasar District Court to hear a final statement by prosecutors.
The 27-year-old Gold Coast woman made no comment as police led her to a holding cell at the courthouse.
Indonesian prosecutors are expected to argue against defence claims that Bali police bungled their investigation.
Corby's legal team has also criticised comments made by the trial's head judge, who appeared unmoved by Corby's emotional plea of innocence last week.
Bali prosecutor I Bagus Wiswantanu has already called for Corby to be jailed for life for allegedly trying to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali last October.
Corby's lawyer Lily Lubis said her client was suffering from stress and was physically shaking when she was driven to the latest hearing.
She said Corby was becoming increasingly depressed through the final phases of the trial, but said the former student beautician was not suicidal.
"She is a strong person. So I hope she will not do a stupid thing," Lubis said.
Lubis also said she would speak in court about news that John Ford, the Victorian prisoner who gave evidence at Corby's trial, had been attacked twice and slashed with a razor blade in a Victorian jail.
In March, Ford went to Bali and told the Denpasar District Court that the drugs found in Corby's luggage had been planted there without her knowledge by criminals involved in a drug-trafficking ring operating at Australian airports.
Ford testified that he had overheard two fellow prisoners laughing about how a crime boss's shipment of marijuana had gone missing between Brisbane and Sydney last year.
He said the drugs were owned by a Melbourne man, who later vehemently denied the allegation.
At the time Ford said he had endangered his life by appearing as a defence witness for Corby.
Indonesian prosecutors, though, dismissed the validity of Ford's testimony.
But Lubis said the attacks on Ford showed that his testimony was serious.
"Everyone in the Indonesian legal system should know it is not a joke," she said.
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SuperD
THE SPIRIT OFTRUTH
Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 2,517
Loc: TX
Last seen: 3 hours, 22 minutes
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4139870 - 05/05/05 09:54 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Let the poor woman go for fuck's sake. It's a P-L-A-N-T. Ridiculous bullshit like this will be looked at in the future just as we look at Salem witch trials today.
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I'd like you to meet my local drug dealer 
Bruce Campbell for a day! said: Go misidentify a mushroom please.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4140342 - 05/05/05 11:53 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Prosecutors sure of Corby guilt
May 6, 2005 dailytelegraph.news.com.au
INDONESIAN prosecutors confidently wrapped up their case against accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby today, dismissing defence testimony and her tearful plea of innocence as emotional words with no legal weight.
Prosecutors in the Schapelle Corby drugs trial say the 27-year-old was caught red-handed importing drugs to Indonesia, and should therefore be jailed for life.
Worryingly for the defence team, the three judges in the Denpasar District Court appeared to nod in agreement during the prosecution's summation.
Defence lawyer Lily Lubis also appeared pessimistic ahead of a verdict from the judges, possibly on May 26.
In their final statement to the court, prosecutors denied they had ignored key evidence the defence claims shows Corby is innocent of smuggling 4.1 kg of marijuana into Bali airport last October.
Corby's legal team had tried to sway the judges with emotional arguments, instead of legal fact, they said.
"We conclude legally that there was nothing to respond to," prosecutor Ni Wayan Sinaryati said of the defence case.
"According to us it is natural and common in the defence effort for lawyers to have a different view," he said.
"But the lawyers have used phrases which are emotive and not sympathetic towards police and the customs."
Sinaryati said there had been little about "real justice" in a two-hour defence submission read to the court last week ahead of an Corby's own personal appeal for freedom.
"To achieve justice we must follow the law," she said.
Sinaryati argued it was legal fact that Corby had brought the drugs to Bali in her unlocked body board bag.
She said defence witness statements from Corby's family and friends could not be trusted.
She also attacked evidence from Victorian prisoner John Ford - who was stabbed in a Victorian jail this week after testifying in support of Corby.
Ford told the court last month that he had heard two other Australian inmates laughing about how the 27-year-old had been an innocent "mule" used by domestic drug gangs in Australia.
Sinaryati said such claim had come from someone who had been "joking".
"The statement was not based on valid legal procedure," Sinaryati said.
Corby, dressed in a green shirt and black slacks, only learned of Ford's stabbing when she was led past a smaller than usual group of waiting journalists, thinned out by fears of a police visa raid during the court hearing.
Her lawyer Lubis said she hoped Ford's stabbing - which she said she would tell judges about next week - would help convince them that his evidence about a domestic drug smuggling ring in Australia had been serious.
"We cannot influence the judges, but we believe that with their intelligence they can see it is not a joke," she said.
Lubis also started talking about the possibility of an appeal.
"This is only the first court," she said.
"It is the system, when you cannot get what you expect.
"If it is not (a verdict for freedom), of course we will not give up."
Lubis said Corby, who was shaking on her way into court, was becoming increasingly depressed as the verdict drew closer and hoped she was not becoming suicidal.
Edited by veggie (05/06/05 12:11 AM)
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4148326 - 05/07/05 09:07 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Indonesian police admit Corby case flaws
May 8, 2005 abc.net.au
The head of the Balinese drug squad says he sees some weaknesses in the case against Schapelle Corby.
Prosecutors have demanded a life sentence, saying she was caught red-handed importing drugs into Indonesia.
On Indonesian television, Colonel Bambang Sugiarto has singled out the lack of television footage at Bali airport when she arrived last October as one weakness.
In comments aired on Channel Nine, Colonel Sugiarto said there were other gaps in the prosecution case.
Colonel Sugiarto said the prosecution case was only half there because of difficulties with fingerprinting.
A verdict is expected by the end of the month.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4149143 - 05/08/05 01:50 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Police part of smuggling at airports
May 8, 2005 thecouriermail.news.com.au
THE Australian Federal Police had in the past failed to properly investigate allegations of drug trafficking at airports because serving police officers were involved in the practice, a former detective said today.
Ray Cooper, a former head of operations for the AFP's internal investigations, told Channel 9 it was well known by the force that unwitting passengers were being used as "mules" to shift drugs between Australian domestic airports.
He said his investigations suggested some state and federal police were in league with the smugglers.
"It was well known amongst the federal police that this particular operation and strategy was being adopted by criminals," Mr Cooper said.
"(But) the leadership of the federal police was not capable or strong enough to conduct a thorough, honest and open investigation.
"They were afraid for their reputation. They wanted the world to believe they were the only police force in the world that didn't have corruption.
"They were naive then, and I believe to some extent they're still naive."
Mr Cooper also said some Australian airports suffered from a lack of security that made it easy for drug smugglers to gain access to passenger's baggage.
Speaking about Gold Coast Airport, Mr Cooper said: "There was no control at the back of that airport. Every man and his dog can access that baggage."
Mr Cooper's claims lend credence to accused Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, who faces possible life in prison for carrying 4.2kg of cannabis to Bali.
Ms Corby has long maintained the drugs were planted in her boogie board bag at Brisbane airport. Mr Cooper did not comment on security at Brisbane.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4149600 - 05/08/05 08:27 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Marijuana in luggage: consulate confirms call
May 9, 2005 - smh.com.au
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed a man rang the Australian consulate in Bali when he found a package of marijuana in his bag after flying in from Melbourne.
The Melbourne man, named only as "Steve", told Channel Nine's Sunday program that he found an airtight bag of drugs about the size of a loaf of bread when he unpacked.
Steve came forward in an attempt to bolster the case of Schapelle Corby, the Australian woman charged in Indonesia with attempting to smuggle 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into the country.
When Steve discovered the marijuana in 1997 he immediately contacted the Australian consulate. He says he was told: "If you get caught with that, mate, you'll be eating nasi goreng (rice) for the rest of your life in jail."
Steve said he was advised to flush the package down the toilet and not tell the authorities under any circumstances.
Julie McDonald, a spokeswoman for the department, said the vice-consul remembers the call. She said the vice-consul discussed three options - seeking legal advice, reporting the matter to authorities or disposing of the drugs.
"But he didn't advise any particular course of action, saying that was a matter for the individual concerned," Ms McDonald said.
The Sunday program also aired claims by a former Australian Federal Police officer, Ray Cooper, that it was well known air passengers were used as unwitting drug mules.
Mr Cooper also said allegations of drug trafficking at airports had not been properly investigated because serving police officers were involved.
An AFP spokeswoman, Rebecca Goddard, said: "If Mr Cooper has evidence of any offence that has not already been thoroughly examined he should take that to the AFP or Commonwealth Ombudsman, not Channel Nine."
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4151532 - 05/08/05 09:28 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Corby's lawyers gear up to make final submission
May 9, 2005 - theadvertiser.news.com.au
SCHAPELLE Corby's lawyers will tell her trial judges this week the evidence of Customs officers who first apprehended her cannot be relied upon because their grasp of English was too poor.
The defence gets one last chance this week to make submissions or their "duplik" to the court before the judges retire to consider a verdict.
But allegations on the weekend by an ex-Australian Federal Police officer about baggage handlers using domestic airports and the luggage of unsuspecting passengers to traffic drugs between states are too late to be introduced as evidence.
Ray Cooper, former head of operations for the AFP's internal investigations, told the Nine Network it was well known by the AFP that unwitting passengers were being used as "mules" to shift drugs between Australian domestic airports.
All evidence in the case has now closed and both sides have made their closing addresses.
Vasu Rasiah, a consultant to Ms Corby's legal team, said yesterday allegations raised by Mr Cooper could only be used in an appeal to a higher court, should Ms Corby be found guilty by the Denpasar District Court.
Mr Cooper, former anti-organised crime head in the AFP's internal investigations section until he left in 1995, said at the time there was ample intelligence to suggest airports were being used to transport drugs between states.
Prosecutors in Ms Corby's trial have placed importance on the evidence of Customs officer Gusti Nyoman Winata, who testified that when he tried to open Ms Corby's boogie board bag she tried to stop him, saying: "No, I have some."
Ms Corby has denied this ever happened, saying that she willingly opened the bag without being asked.
When the court resumes on Thursday, in response to the prosecution's submissions, the defence team will tell the judges Mr Winata's evidence of the conversation that day cannot be relied upon because his grasp of the English was not good enough.
Ms Corby's team has also seized on comments made by the head of Bali's drug squad, Lieutenant-Colonel Bambang Sugiarto, in an Indonesian TV interview that the inquiry regarding fingerprints on the plastic bag of drugs had only been 50 per cent completed.
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veggie
Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 6,769
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Re: Schapelle Corby trial updates [Re: veggie]
#4153750 - 05/09/05 02:58 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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The story below confirms that baggage handlers are involved with drug smuggling in Australia, and possibly how marijuana found it's way into Schapelle Corby's bag. Unfortunately, this will not be of any help to Ms. Corby.
Airport link to cocaine ring arrests
May 10, 2005 - smh.com.au
Baggage handlers at Sydney Airport allegedly helped smuggle cocaine for a multi-million dollar drugs ring that NSW and federal police say they have smashed.
Police yesterday arrested 11 men, including a former NSW police sergeant and a former merchant banker, in raids throughout the city and have charged them with conspiring to smuggle and supply 20-30 kilograms of cocaine.
Although none of the men were baggage handlers, police say they believe the syndicate could not have sneaked suitcases filled with drugs past customs for more than a year without the help of handlers, the Herald has learnt.
The syndicate allegedly made $10 million from one drugs run from South America last year alone. Police allegedly found in a Bondi home a photo of a man wearing a black balaclava posing behind a small pyramid of $10 million in $100 and $50 notes stacked on the dining room table.
Police allege that he is one of the men arrested.
The targeting of baggage handlers comes amid concerns about security in cargo handling areas at Australian airports and claims by that Australian Schapelle Corby that the cannabis Indonesian authorities allegedly found in her luggage in October was planted.
Last night an adviser for Corby's legal team, Vasu Rasiah, said he was shocked by news of the arrests but said it was too late to help Corby, who faces life in jail if convicted of drugs smuggling.
"Every Australian should be upset by this news," he said.
The NSW and federal police said that yesterday's arrests had nothing to do with the nine Australians Bali police arrested last month allegedly trying to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia. The syndicate they were targeting allegedly smuggled cocaine out of South America.
Starting at dawn, police raided homes in Bondi, Brighton-Le-Sands, Collaroy, Coogee, Gladesville, Greenwich, Kings Cross, Maroubra, Normanhurst, Paddington, Padstow, Petersham, Pyrmont and Winston Hills. The ages of those arrested ranged from 18 to 70. No drugs were found.
The acting NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, who made the announcement with the Federal Police Special Operations Agent Michael Phelan and the head of the NSW Police Special Crime Unit working with the State Crime Commission, Assistant Commis-sioner John Carroll, said the arrests were the result of a five-month investigation.
Mr Scipione said it was unknown what happened to the $10 million. However, police said they found $1 million buried in a suitcase at one of the 15 premises they raided.
Only two of the arrested men have appeared in court.
A former merchant banker, 40, faced Central Local Court charged with importing a prohibited drug. He was refused bail and is to appear in Central Local tomorrow.
The other was a former NSW Police detective sergeant, 50, who faced Sutherland Local Court charged with supplying a prohibited drug. He was refused bail and was ordered to appear before Central Local Court next Tuesday.
The other men arrested in the raids included: a man from Maroubra, 56; a man from Coogee, 70; a man from Winston Hills, 28; a man from Kings Cross, 50; a man from Petersham, 55; a man from Bondi, 39; a man from Woy Woy, 33; and two brothers from Padstow, 37 and 18.
They are expected to face courts today.
Edited by veggie (05/10/05 10:18 AM)
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