Posted on 05/06/2005 1:26:38 PM PDT by JeffersonRepublic.com
DENPASAR, Indonesia (AFP) - Indonesian prosecutors sought a life sentence for an Australian woman on trial for allegedly smuggling a large quantity of marijuana onto the resort island of Bali.
They also demanded that Schapelle Corby, 27, who was arrested last October when customs officers at Bali's main airport found 4.1 kilograms (nine pounds) of the drug in her luggage, pay a fine of 100 million rupiah (10,460 dollars).
The former beauty student, who has denied the charge, shed tears as the prosecutor's request -- far short of the maximum permitted death penalty -- was translated in the court in the Balinese capital, Denpasar.
"The defendant has been proven, legally and convincingly of illegally and in contravention of the laws, importing class one narcotics," Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu said.
Corby's case has attracted unprecedented media interest in her homeland, prompting the Australian government to lobby Indonesian legal authorities on her behalf.
The trial is one of the few sticking points in improving ties between the neighbours, which frayed in 1999 when Canberra sent peacekeepers to East Timor during Indonesia's bloody withdrawal from its former territory.
Wiswantanu said that the sentence would reflect the fact that Corby's alleged crime had sullied Bali's holiday island image and caused mental anguish to its people. Her plea of not guilty would also weigh against her.
The court was adjourned for one week as Corby repeatedly said, "it's not fair," while hugging her lawyer and sobbing sister, Mercedes.
Corby's Australian lawyers have said that they had obtained new evidence that she was unwittingly used as a courier by organised criminals trying to smuggle the drugs on a connecting flight from Brisbane to Sydney.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Jakarta may agree to a request by Australia for Corby to serve time in her country if convicted, pending a legal agreement between the two nations.
Thursday's submission by prosecutors was only a recommendation, which judges can choose to ignore.
Indonesian courts have been handing out severe penalties in narcotics trials in the past few years as the country attempts to get tough on a growing drug abuse problem.
Thirty one death sentences for drug offences have been issued since 2000.
Two Thai nationals and an Indian convicted for drug trafficking in 1994 were executed, by firing squads, last year.
Nine more Australians are facing a possible death penalty in Bali for allegedly smuggling heroin after they were arrested earlier this week in a joint operation by Indonesian and Australian police.
Corby was tested for drugs and it was negative and says she hates drugs. Also none of her fingerprints were founded on the drug bag.
I was not aware of the time line. It does not change the facts that this was not done after her arrest. Even a boob like yourself should know that mj stays in the system up to 8 weeks after use.
O.K. Clarence. I'm a boob cuz you can't read.
& the absense of a negative is proof of a positive.
Sheesh, I hope you're employed in the private sector so you can be justly compesated for your efforts
Listen you are the one who replied to me in an insulting tone. I treat people the way they treat me. I would be more than willing to discuss this civilly, but you set the tone.
Let me try again. She had an attorney within days of her arrest. He did not ask for a drug screen. Why? You figure it out. If she had a clean test it would have helped her defense substantially.
P.S. compensated is spelled this way c-o-m-p-e-n-s-a-t-e-d
no wonder you are Comfortably living below the poverty level since 2002.
The prosecutor says that they have proven her guilty. Wow, there's a shocker. I'm sure the Michael Jackson prosecutor right now is saying "we proved Jackson guilty". Doesn't mean much until the jury gets Jackson's case.
Let me get this straight: Sydney is south of Brisbane, therefore nobody could have planted drugs in her bag.
Someone who constructs a syllogism like that shouldn't be throwing around the term "gullible".
That's like me getting picked up entering Hawaii & saying I was unwittingly used as a courier by organised criminals trying to smuggle the drugs on a connecting flight from Los Angeles to Chicago - just real lame
As is "drug test" exoneration you're fishing for
Look no one buys drugs in quantity with out sampling the goods. If she had a clean test the planted defense would be helped considerably.
It wouldn't be "lame" at all if the plane that she took to Bali flew from Sydney. A quick google search on her name and "Sydney" and "Brisbane" reveals:
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1325093.htm
"The group checked their bags in at Brisbane's domestic terminal. At the Qantas counter, Schapelle Corby was instructed to take her bodyboard to the oversize baggage section. With that done, the friends posed for a farewell photo before boarding a domestic flight to Sydney, then on to an international flight to Indonesia. It was in transit in Sydney that Schapelle Corby met up with her friend, Jodie Power, also bound for Bali. The friends were to celebrate the 30th birthday of Schapelle Corby's sister Mercedes."
In other words, she flew from Brisbane to Sydney and thence to Bali. That's not particularly uncommon. I can remember one time when I flew from Detroit to LA via Newark because it was $300 cheaper than any other option.
So you better try to find another piece of "proof" for your claims.
I personally don't know whether or not she's guilty. I do know that there's no way for any of us out here to conclude firmly EITHER way on the matter.
G'day cobber,
Well guilty or innocent, let's hope that she is allow to return to her home country where understanding people will be able to look at the case and then pass judgment if so she'll be Apples.
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com
I'm making no claims.
FWIW, Aussies are famous for their "drug holidays" & all of 'em are well aware of Indonesia/Malaysian/etc death for drug smuggling.
Typically the drugs are obtained at the destination (not brought in) & on return flights are encouraged to get rid of any drugs before landing.
Failing that, there are huge drums in Aussie airport arrival corridors - instructing those "holding" to dispose of same prior to customs.
This twit apparently thought her "on holiday" demeanor & body board wouldn't arouse Custom's suspicion.
Wrong.
How large is 4 keys of Mj ? Would it fit in your luggage w/o your knowledge?
Isn't 4 keys a lot for individual use ?
She was unwittingly used -->How would the Bali contact collect his goods unless there was complicity?
And yes, I've been to Australia - several times.... & to Denpasar
I believe the argument being advanced is that one person planted the drugs in Brisbane and expected someone else to pick them up in Sydney, without any involvement or knowledge by the woman. Under that scenario, all you'd need is a missed pickup in Sydney and her luggage continued to Bali.
Does that scenario prove she was innocent? No, but it certainly undermines an open and shut case that she's guilty. And, when a life sentence is on the line, one hopes those adjudicating the case proceed very carefully.
If she's found not guilty but really was guilty, then justice was not served, but she'll be nearly bankrupt from the costs of the case (okay, she'll probably write a book to recoup some of that). If she's found guilty but really was not guilty, then a horribly evil thing will have been done. So I hope they reach the correct verdict, and I'm not going to presume which is the correct result.
Again, FWIW the domestic & Intl. terminals @ Sydney are miles apart. Her story is way weak.
The Bali bomber got 2 years for killing 200 people, this girl gets 20 years for smuggling pot.
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