Schapelle Corby - in prison, in Bali
Discussion
I presumed there would have been a thread on Schapelle Corby on PH, when she was sentenced to 20 years in Kerobokan prison, but the PH search is down for maintenance. A google search of PH reveals nothing either.
Was it ever discussed on PH?
Was curious to read what the PH consensus was on her being guilty or innocent, but cant see a thread.
Was it ever discussed on PH?
Was curious to read what the PH consensus was on her being guilty or innocent, but cant see a thread.
I had to Google the name as I've not actually heard it before.
However, after reading the article it does seem a very complex case. What is undeniable is that she had drungs in her luggage, that is a difficult situation to be in.
Had she known the drugs were there, then she deserves her stay in prison. However if the defense is true, and she was an unwitting mule, then my heart can only go out to her. It would be an awful situation to find yourself in.
However, after reading the article it does seem a very complex case. What is undeniable is that she had drungs in her luggage, that is a difficult situation to be in.
Had she known the drugs were there, then she deserves her stay in prison. However if the defense is true, and she was an unwitting mule, then my heart can only go out to her. It would be an awful situation to find yourself in.
To be honest I’ve kept a closer eye on Scott Rush’s case which you may be aware is now entering an absolutely critical phase.
When you compare the case of Schapelle Corby and indeed her sentence to that of Scott Rush it absolutely beggars belief that he now finds his life hanging by a thread.
It does seem at last that the Australian government is starting to become more animated with the authorities in Bali and the treatment of its nationals.
One lives in hope that Scott gets the right result
When you compare the case of Schapelle Corby and indeed her sentence to that of Scott Rush it absolutely beggars belief that he now finds his life hanging by a thread.
It does seem at last that the Australian government is starting to become more animated with the authorities in Bali and the treatment of its nationals.
One lives in hope that Scott gets the right result
Indeed, as mentioned with the Scott Rush case his initial life sentence was upgraded to the death penalty on appeal. You’d expect to read about such things in medieval Britain or modern day Texas but such things do not belong in the 21st century.
Given the circumstaces you’d probably think twice about appealing a lengthy custodial sentence in Bali?
None the less I find it quite unbelievable that in the case of Schapelle Corby her only real avenue is to admit her guilt but given the Indonesian Presidents stance on such matters what’s the point because he wouldn’t grant clemency anyway?
Given the circumstaces you’d probably think twice about appealing a lengthy custodial sentence in Bali?
None the less I find it quite unbelievable that in the case of Schapelle Corby her only real avenue is to admit her guilt but given the Indonesian Presidents stance on such matters what’s the point because he wouldn’t grant clemency anyway?
Death by firing squad which inevitably open the traditional PH death penalty debate but to my mind such things have no place in the 21st century.
The Scott Rush case isn’t really so open and closed, as mentioned previously he wasn’t even sentenced to death in the first place.
He was just 19 at the time of his crime, you may that is old enough to know better but the Australian authorities knew he was likely to be carrying heroin acting on a tip off from Scott’s own father I think who then allowed him to travel to Indonesia.
Vital to his appeal is just this information that will be presented by a former member of the Australian police, here’s hoping it’s successful.
The Scott Rush case isn’t really so open and closed, as mentioned previously he wasn’t even sentenced to death in the first place.
He was just 19 at the time of his crime, you may that is old enough to know better but the Australian authorities knew he was likely to be carrying heroin acting on a tip off from Scott’s own father I think who then allowed him to travel to Indonesia.
Vital to his appeal is just this information that will be presented by a former member of the Australian police, here’s hoping it’s successful.
Why hoping it is sucessful? He is a drug traficker?
The fact he appealed and his sentence went UP, well that is surely part of the risk of the appeals process. Perhaps if sentences were increased a bit more often on appeal in this country, fewer guilty people would waste taxpayers money tyring to get off with less punishment.
If you cannot do the time etc...
The fact he appealed and his sentence went UP, well that is surely part of the risk of the appeals process. Perhaps if sentences were increased a bit more often on appeal in this country, fewer guilty people would waste taxpayers money tyring to get off with less punishment.
If you cannot do the time etc...
VR6time said:
Who is she?
A quick googling brought up lost of conspiracy theories about her being set up for smuggling.
The 2005 story went over my head too... I was surprised I couldnt google up a PH thread on her even though she is from Oz. She is still headline news over there, a household name as such.A quick googling brought up lost of conspiracy theories about her being set up for smuggling.
The Schappelle case, for those that haven't read it (skip this post if you have) more or less unfolded as follows. This is how I understand it anyway. It's quite sad.
Turned up with baggage and boogie board bag, checked in to Brisbane airport.
She didnt see her luggage until arriving in Bali.
In Bali, her baggage contained a large pillow-sized clear plastic bag, which had been cut open prior to her opening her boogie board bag. The bag contained an inner plastic bag which had also been cut open. Upon opening the (unlocked) boogie board bag, the smell was overpowering.
If the goods were hers, one wonders why she would place about 4kg of marijuana in an unlocked boogie board bag without attempting to hide it.
Furthermore, one wonders why, if smuggling dope to Bali, she would not catch a direct flight but would risk detection by flying through TWO major Australian airports before catching the connecting flight to Bali. Over 20 individuals handled her bag from the moment she checked it in at the first airport, and picked it up in Bali.
Australian officials stated the at the very idea 4.2kg could fly through two major Australian terminals would have been totally laughable, if the case wasn't so tragic.
One also wonders why she would take 4kg of weed to Bali, when the street value of the drugs are one fifth of the value they would have been in Oz.
Coincidentally, it later came to light that the very baggage handlers who were operating some kind of smuggling syndicate in Australian airports, were on duty the day she checked in her luggage in Oz. From what I remember reading, airport chiefs had already acknowleged they were aware there was baggage handling drug smuggling problem in the Australian airports and were monitoring it.
Upon opening her bag in Bali, within hours, dozens of gloveless Bali police and media hands had handled the plastic bags, more or less ruining her right as a human being to a fair trial. She pleaded throughout her case that they
1) Please fingerprint the bags.
2) DNA test the bags
3) DNA test a hair strand found within her bags.
She and her (rubbish) council publicly fought to have the above done. Bali authorities said they would do tests "if they needed to" but, given she had been found with drugs in her bag (despite the fact that it was unlocked, had travelled through three airports) felt it unnecessary.
In court, asking to see the bag, the judge too handled it and the inner plastic with his bare hands, further contaminating the evidence.
The Australian Federal
The Bali officials refused to give a sample of the marijuana to anyone for testing. Tests would have proven the origin of the drugs, which might have acquitted her. But they wouldn't permit the drugs to be tested. Instead, they burnt the evidence as quickly as they could, stating that further investigation as to the origin of the drugs just was not necessary. The Bali authorities did nothing to justify their claims of guilt, but did everything necessary to prevent a further investigation.
She also begged that her bags be weighed. Quantas said they did not keep individual baggage weights, just a sum total of what was checked in. But bali officials (again in breach of her human rights?) refused to properly weigh her luggage and that of her companions upon arrival. They were only interested in conviction.
There are countless other oddities. That her friends were never questioned, never searched, but were simply allowed to walk free out of the airport. They had someone in custody which was all they wanted.
If you were busted in an airport, in a country which was very much against drugs, do you not imagine they would show some small interest in having a look through the luggage of your traveling companions and relatives who flew with you?
The politics are complex. Bali needed a conviction, although I cant quite remember why. Its my belief that she was set up, although I havent read much into the conspiracy and anti-innocent theories.
In Bali, she didn't have the contacts, know-how or resources to traffic the drugs either. She also had a clean record as an upstanding citizen and tested negative for dope. You'd think even the most clean drug dealer would likely have so much as a joint in their system. Perhaps she was a mule.
Quantas (the airline), despite the $200m security camera installations, at both airports failed to deliver any surveillance evidence. She and her council were told
- the cameras were only switched on if they were expecting trouble and were off at the time
- the cameras were working fine, footage could be provided
- the cameras were not working that day.
The story changed time and again. Perhaps to protect their baggage handlers. Perhaps from pressure from the Australian government who, its possible, were willing to sacrifice a citizen for whatever political reasons - I forget the debate.
In Indonesia, anything more than 15 grams caught on your person warrants the death penalty, ie 15g indicates to them, you are a supplier not user. I feel that is exceedingly harsh. A hand count is not needed, but I suspect many a PHer at some time during their miss-spent youth has had a puff or a pill or two. Carrying even a couple of e's in some countries will put you inside some incredibly harsh prisons, for half a decade or more.
Security that day in Bali upon her arrival, it would seem (but who knows for sure) were expecting to arrest someone and waiting for the right opportunity to plant drugs. After taking 4kg of marijuana out of her bag, they did let her go, despite the fact that she was carrying it. And handed it to them. Her brother who was released was detained instead. It was only after she convinced them it was her bag that they detained her instead and let him go, without checking any of their friends.
Someone did testify that whilst in Prison, he heard inmates discussing what had happened and whose drugs they were. The Bali Court wouldn't entertain hearsay, of course.
A very tragic and very interesting case. Sadly, the Australian media did little to sway public opinion. The Indonesian media painted the picture of her being a Ganja Queen. I forget all the details, but at every turn she was let down.
Guilty or innocent, she never stood a chance. The judge was proud of the fact that he had never once acquitted a defendant remanded on drugs charges, in over 500 cases. I seem to remember reading the president had never acquitted anyone convicted (rightly or wrongly) of a drugs related crime who was on death row.
The Scott Rush case, if heard in the UK, would likely rule in his favour of a lesser sentence. Only 2 of the Bali 9 caught with 9kg of heroin got the death penalty, they were the organisers. Scott was just a mule, one of the youngest, no more guilty than anyone else - no idea why they upgraded his case to the death sentence too.
One other thing I would like to add (for those of you who havent fallen asleep
) is that I do fly with locks on my cases. Not to protect my drugs 
But from time to time, my luggage arrives lock-less! Scary, all of it.
And in my view very tragic too, for a pretty young lady who is slowly going insane on the inside.
Having read the book, I believe this was the pics snapped of her disbelief and distress, upon first being handed her guilty/20 years sentence
Another on the inside
Edited by Mobsta on Friday 10th September 19:03
Meh, one of millions of victims of the "war against drugs" (aka the idea that "governments" (seriously, wtf is a government?) have any right to decide what you do to your own body).
Nothing terribly special about her as far as I can see.
Nothing terribly special about her as far as I can see.
Edited by Somewhatfoolish on Friday 10th September 19:40
s3fella said:
Why hoping it is sucessful? He is a drug traficker?
The fact he appealed and his sentence went UP, well that is surely part of the risk of the appeals process. Perhaps if sentences were increased a bit more often on appeal in this country, fewer guilty people would waste taxpayers money tyring to get off with less punishment.
If you cannot do the time etc...
I would hazard a guess that there is absolutely nothing I could say that would any difference to your views on this.The fact he appealed and his sentence went UP, well that is surely part of the risk of the appeals process. Perhaps if sentences were increased a bit more often on appeal in this country, fewer guilty people would waste taxpayers money tyring to get off with less punishment.
If you cannot do the time etc...
None the less if you think taking somebody out in the dead of night and shooting them is an acceptable form of punishment in the 21st century then so be it.
For the sake of all doubt I’ve posted a link to a report on the execution of two Nigerians in Bali, it does not make good reading
http://www.news.com.au/opinion/painful-deaths-awai...
This of course is the same fate that the Bali Bombers met and I am really struggling to see how the same punishment for Scott Rush is warranted.
Of course I’m deeply aware of the damage heroin does but in this case we are talking about a 19 year old who had little idea of what he was getting himself into and now stands on the edge of paying the ultimate price in the most gruesome circumstances imaginable.
As can be seen in the post above I wouldn’t have much faith in the Indonesian justice system full stop, the treatment of Schapelle Corby is deplorable and its good the see these things being given a bit of airtime on PH.
Trouble is, being a member of Amnesty on PH is pretty much like owning up to being a Christian!
No. I mean that he is a drugs trafficker. He went there to do it, knowing the possible punishment, which in that country (like it or not) is death.
He got life. He apealed it as (like one of his family friends back home said in the media) he thought "it was a bit harsh", but it truned out the Appelant Court did not agree, and thought it a bit lenient.
If you hope he wins his appeal so he is not executed, so be it. But perhaps he should have considered that before appealing the life sentence?
It seems far to easy for criminals to appeal senetences, and most think they have "nothing to lose" tie up tax payer resources, and they cannot really lose... This case suggests you can, so maybe it will make some others think twice before either committing the offence in the first place, or if not, and they get caught, taking the life sentence and counting themselves lucky.
One thing is for sure, now he does have the death penalty sentence, he cannot really lose by at least trying to appeal it.
He got life. He apealed it as (like one of his family friends back home said in the media) he thought "it was a bit harsh", but it truned out the Appelant Court did not agree, and thought it a bit lenient.
If you hope he wins his appeal so he is not executed, so be it. But perhaps he should have considered that before appealing the life sentence?
It seems far to easy for criminals to appeal senetences, and most think they have "nothing to lose" tie up tax payer resources, and they cannot really lose... This case suggests you can, so maybe it will make some others think twice before either committing the offence in the first place, or if not, and they get caught, taking the life sentence and counting themselves lucky.
One thing is for sure, now he does have the death penalty sentence, he cannot really lose by at least trying to appeal it.
Somewhatfoolish said:
seriously, wtf is a government?
gov·ern·ment–noun
1. the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration: Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society.
2. the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed: monarchical government; episcopal government.
3. the governing body of persons in a state, community, etc.; administration.
4. a branch or service of the supreme authority of a state or nation, taken as representing the whole: a dam built by the government.
5. (in some parliamentary systems, as that of the United Kingdom)
a. the particular group of persons forming the cabinet at any given time: The Prime Minister has formed a new government.
b. the parliament along with the cabinet: The government has fallen.
6. direction; control; management; rule: the government of one's conduct.
7. a district governed; province.
8. political science.
9. Grammar . the extablished usage that requires that one word in a sentence should cause another to be of a particular form: the government of the verb by its subject.
Google kicks ass.
EDLT said:
Somewhatfoolish said:
seriously, wtf is a government?
gov·ern·ment–noun
1. the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration: Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society.
2. the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed: monarchical government; episcopal government.
3. the governing body of persons in a state, community, etc.; administration.
4. a branch or service of the supreme authority of a state or nation, taken as representing the whole: a dam built by the government.
5. (in some parliamentary systems, as that of the United Kingdom)
a. the particular group of persons forming the cabinet at any given time: The Prime Minister has formed a new government.
b. the parliament along with the cabinet: The government has fallen.
6. direction; control; management; rule: the government of one's conduct.
7. a district governed; province.
8. political science.
9. Grammar . the extablished usage that requires that one word in a sentence should cause another to be of a particular form: the government of the verb by its subject.
Google kicks ass.
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