I didn't see this posted yet, so I thought I'd see if any of you had seen it. It seems nuts. A woman was found guilty of smuggling drugs into Indonesia. However, her defense was that Australian baggage people put the drugs into her bag. An investigation by the Australian government supports her claim (they even made an arrest of one of the handlers who admitted that she didn't know that they had put the drugs in her bag). However, the Indonesian courts dismissed the evidence, and then convicted her and sentenced her to 20 years.
This is a really dumb move on the part of the Indonesian government. They are in dire need of continued international support...and to jail someone when there was evidence that they were innocent is very foolish.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
That is messed up.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Do not get busted with drugs. They take their "war on drugs" quite seriously.
Brokedown Palace was set in Thailand, but the theme is still the same.
-Trevor
Posted by Danzig (Member # 4704) on :
It is the end result of the war on drugs. The only way to stop us using is to totally exterminate us. Seems like some people might not quite have the stomach for that after all, though others happily do. Just a bunch of damn junkies anyway. Better a thousand innocents jailed or slain than a single drug smuggler go free.
At least she avoided the death penalty. F*ck Indonesia. Hopefully Australians and others will boycott this barbaric nation at a time when it desperately needs tourism dollars.
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
*is reminded vaguely of the Thailand drug-smuggling incident in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.*
*giggles*
*wanders out of thread*
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Yeah - except it's not really that simple.
There was no evidence from handlers that drugs were put in her bags whatsoever. There *certainly* hasn't been any arrests of handlers in relation to her case.
There has been allegations of corruption and baggage tampering at Sydney International Airport, but not in connection with drugs.
Her defence case was an unproven hypothesis, not helped by the fact she allegedly told Indonesian customs officials the drugs were hers.
I feel very sorry for the woman. But her case isn't strong, and not many people her expected any other verdict.
Incidentally, the Australian government is applying for a prisoner transfer so she can serve her sentance in an Australian jail.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I can't speak to the differences in Australian and Indonesian judicial systems and jails, but given the choice - I'd take an Aussie trial and prison every time, hands down.
-Trevor
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Possession of drugs can get you the death penalty in many countries, including Sri Lanka.
Granted, it's seldom enforced here by all appearances, but that doesn't mean that it won't or can't happen with a particularly zealous judge.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Me too, Trevor.
But then I wouldn't try and smuggle over a kilo of marijuana into a country. Especially one that is very public about its executions of foreign drug smugglers.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Assuming she did it, conviction notwithstanding.
Mental note - never, ever bring anything into an Asian country besides a carry-on and even then, inspect it twice before you try and pass customs.
-Trevor
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Yep.
Also, if someone finds a (coincidentally exactly the right size and shape to fit perfectly into your body board bag) package of drugs, *don't* tell the customs officials they're yours.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
And no, I wouldn't advise visitors to purchase the weed in Indonesian. Anyone who sells to a tourist can make a LOT more money by turning that tourist in for a reward. The authorities like to pretend that tourists are smuggling the stuff into the country. Which is probably what happened in Customs.