When the verdict was delivered Schapelle was told to stand and it was translated to her. Schapelle turned to her female translator and reacted in horror. I looked at the young female prosecutor, who had her hands over her mouth. Maybe she sensed the impact a 20 year prison sentence would have on another woman of similar age. As the verdict was delivered I heard some whooping and screaming from the back of the court and shouts of, “She is innocent, let her go home.” A brief moment of chaos reigned as people scuffled at the back. I could not understand what the judge was saying and asked someone else what the actual sentence was.
Soon after the sentence was read, the Keystone Cops assembled outside right next to where I was standing and formed a corridor for Schapelle to pass. Again chaos reigned with Australian women screaming. One shouted, “Stop bloody pushing you animals, bloody idiots.” The cops were linking arms and shoving people out of the way. Schapelle was led out past me to a waiting police vehicle out front, a stout policeman holding her by the arm and a posse of other police around her. This group was followed by the press corps with cameras held high and microphones on poles. One young Australian news cameraman was lying on the floor dazed and scratched, as he and a small tree were knocked over by the stampede.
On her way out various elements of the Corby supporters club screamed insults and proclamations that she is innocent. One Corby supporter read a pre-written message that said this was a travesty and Schapelle should be released. I saw a group of media hounds circling Schapelle’s sister, Mercedes. She read a message in Indonesian and screamed at the media when they asked for a translation. I must say the Corby clan carry with them the same degree of class as the Jerry Springer Show, and there was a circus-like atmosphere outside the court waiting for the next outburst. I saw Ron Bakir, Schapelle’s financial backer talking to the cameras and head off, still followed by them.
Wondering what people’s reaction was to the verdict I asked the young Australians who were next to me at the court window. They told me that 20 years was a sentence that was expected. Outside, close to the street large groups of police gathered and chatted amongst themselves. A lady from Ireland said “No comment,” when I asked her opinion of the verdict and sentence. Then she said, “I think she is guilty, although all of Australia thinks she is innocent.” Talking to a gentleman from Australian TV and his older Australian friend, they both agreed Schapelle is guilty and thought 20 years was a fair sentence. So I guess it depends on who you ask.
My feelings towards Schapelle while watching through the window were that I see someone suffering. Whether she knew about the drugs or not, I think it’s true to say she will never be caught doing the same again. I respect Indonesian law but at the same time do not see the point in locking her up for 20 years. The likely scenario is that after exhausting appeals Schapelle will be sent to Australia to serve her sentence.
Stepping out of the court compound onto the busy street I quickly caught a Bluebird taxi and sped off. How different my afternoon would be to Schapelle’s, I thought. At that moment in time my freedom seemed a gift, I could go where I wanted. Arriving at my house in Seminyak I asked Ika if she wanted to cool down in a swimming pool. The Cin Cin restaurant on Jl. Dhyana Pura has a nice pool and now that Ika is almost 8 months pregnant she gets hot. While Ika swam I typed this article, checked my photos and thought about the whole situation. Schapelle is young and cute, that is what saved her. If anyone else was caught in her situation they would probably do what they have always done, lock the door and throw away the key. Hopefully people will think twice before messing with drugs overseas from now on.
{ 71 comments }
The Bali Justice System is a Joke!!! remind me never to travel to Bali, if it could happen to Schapelle it could happen to anyone. Schapelle is INNOCENT!!!
G’Day Nick,
As I mentioned, I watched the whole live broadcast on the box. When the head judge ordered Corby’s lawyer to remove the microphone - which was the sound link translation to the outside world - I knew then that things weren’t going to be rosy.
The Appeals have been put forward apparently - the Prosecution wanting a ‘life’ sentence and the Defence wanting the term reduced or squashed.
I am no lawyer or expert on Indo law, but, if I were Corby’s lawyers then I wouldn’t appeal as there is a chance her sentence could be lengthened. Better to just sit and wait and see if the prisoner exchange goes ahead. Hey, that’s only my opinion and I would be interested in other people’s opinions on this. How about it folks - what do you think Corby should do?.
On a much prettier note, Ika is absolutely glowing mate!.
Hi, Nick. This is a very sad and dramatic story, like that of Michael’s, the french guy, and his mother. I read all about them.
Bali is a paradise but can become hell just in a sudden.
How long until the made for TV movie?
Strike while the iron’s hot. Out before Christmas most likely.
Britney Spears to play the crazy sister Mercedes, Samuel L. Jackson as the judge, Ben Stiller as financier Ron Bakir and J-Lo to play Corby herself (Ben Affleck written into the script as the young stud who shares the cell next to her).
Great reporting Nick. I read a book about the Kerobokan prison and it suggested that Indonesia has a 100% conviction rate. Anything to suggest otherwise?
All I can say is I will never, ever go to Bali. Between the bombings and this, I can’t imagine why any Westerner would!
I see you delete comments you don’t like. I’m not surprised.
I’m still never coming to Bali - and I still see why any Westerner would.
As a Canadian, and as lawyer with mostly international clients, I am OUTRAGED. I travel to south-east asia regularly as a part of my immigration law practice. I was in Jakarta and Bali last October as part of a month long trip. I will not go back to Indonesia again because of this. As a young professional with my whole life and career ahead of me, it just isn’t worth the risk.
My trip to Bali was my first. The locals consistenly voiced their concerns about Bali’s weak economy that suffered immeasurably by the night-club bombing some years back. In October, while I was told that the situation was still dire, there was hope that tourists would come back and the economy would recover. Now, I’m afraid, there is no hope. Why choose Bali and face risk of persecution when there are other less risky options?
It does seem odd that she would be bringing drugs IN to Bali as opposed to out. But Oz hydroponics are apparently much superior to the local stuff and consequently in demand; there is a reasonable explanation as to motive. She had been to Bali several times before and thus could have known this.
Under the circumstances I don’t see what other conclusion an Indonesian–or any–court could have arrived at.
Yep, Nick deletes items that don’t seem to fit into his world view. Too bad, Nick. Seems to me certain regimes whose decisions you don’t like do the same thing.
So, dear and temporary readers, be warned–this isn’t an honest blog.
The system of justice in Bali is a total, absolute joke, and this is just more proof. 20 years for pot? and none in her system ? The notion that she could have recieved the death penalty for this is completely and utterly outragous.
My wife and I enjoyed Bali tremendously when we’ve been there (and when we come we spend a few months). We will not be back. To many other places
worth visiting, with none of this crap. We will urge our friends and families to do the same.
David Eye
Fort Collins Colorado USA
I think this is a good lesson for all the Australians. They are worst of the discriminatory type, has no respect for others and think they can do whatever they want. I guess this is part of their heredity.
I think there is no doubt she is guilty and chances are she is part of a larger group of junkies. It is no secret lot of young people in Australia smoke a lot of drugs and they are commonly available in the streets.
What made all the Australians think they can just immediately claim her innocence? Would they do the same thing if it was an Indonesian or someone from a pooper country who was caught in Australia??? Have you people ever spent five minutes to find out how much discriminatory and racist decisions are taken in Australia and how many poor innocent people are made to suffer?
I think Indonesia has made a good point by doing this and judging her guilty and sentencing her. She should’ve got the death penalty.
This is an honest blog. Comments are not deleted.
poor poor shappelle. poor balinese. yes they will be poor and starving if the narrowmindedness continuse.
is shappelle innocent or guilty i dont know.
but the people of bali are innocent also. they will suffer because we decided not to go to bali. I am returning to Bali in 3 weeks for a 2 week holiday and may even extend.
to all the people cancelling there holiday to bali. I suppose you will not visit tibet because of the chinese invasion, malaysia because they hung 2 aussies many years ago, myanmar because of the political situation,
poor poor shappelle. poor balinese. yes they will be poor and starving if the narrowmindedness continuse.
is shappelle innocent or guilty i dont know.
but the people of bali are innocent also. they will suffer because we decided not to go to bali. I am returning to Bali in 3 weeks for a 2 week holiday and may even extend.
to all the people cancelling there holiday to bali. I suppose you will not visit tibet because of the chinese invasion, malaysia because they hung 2 aussies many years ago, myanmar because of the political situation,
Sam; How do you know she is guilty ? you seemed to have convinced yourself, why was no marijuana found in her system ? sounds like plenty to doubt
about this case.
Seems you are making the same error in pre-judgement as those Australians who automatically proclaim her innocence. You are clearly as biased as they are,..Also how do you know she is part of a larger group of “junkies” , she is accused of pot, not heroin ???? And you are further wrong in your assumption that an Indonesian caught in Aus. they would be treated the same or worse; Australia at least is at least a civilized country with fair penalties. Even if she is guilty
the penalty is far too severe, particularly a first time offense.
BTW; What about all the pot dealers in Kuta, many from Sumatra when I was there last in 2001 ?
Why not just convict / shoot them all ?? Contrary to your opinion, Indonesia has made a bad point by doing this and they will suffer for it.
DE
And throughout all of this, and for some time, and continuing into the future, Australia still pumps millions of dollars through aid into Indonesia for legal and judicial reform related activities. Amusing if it was not so bloody tragic.
The Balanese will sell Schappelle back to Australia for some foreign aid, favorable terms in some sort of international treaty, and other concessions. In a year or two she will be home with her family, all will be forgotten, and we will travel to Bali for fun…until they “kidnap” another Westerner to save their shitty economy.
Why would any Westerner want to consider going to this Country , when this could happen to any Innocent person?
I will never ever give 1 cent of a donation to any Charity , if i know it is going to end up in this place . Unfortunately for the Innocent people of Indonesia who need aid , they will suffer because of decisions like the Corby case
Bali had been on our short list for not only vacations, but investment in real estate and possible retirement.
We have friend there who bought years ago who loved the country and the people and advocated joining them in our future plans.
I have had personal experience with perjury by police officers and wrongful prosecution based on perjury. In America, with the resumption of innocence, there was no method of convicting me. but the pain of the false accusation will likve me for the rests of my life and the fact that cops could commit crime against me, conspire and then lie to cover it up, and not even face a chance of proseuction for THEIR crimes, burns me to this day and likely until by death.
However, noting the justice system in Bali as one that declares guilt unless YOU prove SOMEONE ELSE guilty, I could only conclude that this is a country that we will never visit, never advocate that anyone or company with whom we do business invest, and hope, that, through sending “the message of the pocketbook” that this corrupt, in-justice, vicious regime steps down. I pray that we have the power to affect this government in the only legal way that we reasonably can, by not supporting them.
In otherwords, guilty of not, the failure to manage the evidence properly, and consider resonable doubt, would have prevented this [the coviction of Corby] in a CIVILIZED country. America’s invasion of another country based on false or constructed evidence is surely a high crime against humanity. However, we are stuck here, andour justice system does presume innocence, which is a huge point in this. Bali, based on its judicial system, could, as such, be viewed as UNCIVILIZED. Therefore,we prefer not to participate in their economy and risk life and safety by personaly visiting. There are CIVILIZED places where you do not have to worry about THIS crime being meted upon you.
( and yes, I agree, people should speak out about the unfair incarceration without trial by America at Gitmo etc.)
There are some many places on this planet to visit and experience and invest in. Bali and Indonesia do not have to be one on the short list. They are misguided and ruled by a corrupt force that seems to allow the possession of a plant to be a cause for murder. How out of step is that? Possess a plant, KILL the holoder? Dissolve that justice system instead.
in Balie, terrorism with a justification seems to be OK, and religious leaders can foment murder in Bali and have a minor sentence levied for their crime against humanity. But possess a plant for sale, or have plant matter in our effects of which you were unaware as the case may be, and you are subject to the end of your life as you knew it.
Bali is no longer worth a visit except if you are involved in helping free this women and your pressence is required, or acting towards the dissasembly of their failed justice sytem.
Beware.
With a heavy heart I have followed this case, and now written off a place I had previously thought I may reitre to and invest in.
I ask other to consider carefully any furtgher involvement in this nation.
Bennett
I believe Shapelle Corby is innocent,she didn,t recieve a fair trial,in fact she would have been aquitted in Australia ,I will not accept the guilty verdict and because of this injustice will never visit Indonesia
I have no idea if tis woman is guilty or not, but blaming Bali for the actions of the Indonesian government seems absurd to me (I’m American, and certainly don’t consider myself responsible for the actions of MY government!)
Bali is as cizilized as it CAN be, given that it’s ruled by the corrupt Indonesian government.
People blame America all of the time for the actions of our President. Guilty or not is not the point. The justice system is one of presumed guilt, like what we do with suspected terrorists at Gitmo. Further, punishment should be accord with the crime. This is about 4k of refined planted material. She did blow up a night club or poison an ocean with Mercury knowingly.
Boycots are an effective tool as have been labor strikes on occassion to chance injustices. We have to do what we can to stop the madness.
Guys,
I actually don’t delete replies by other people, I like fierce discussion. The only occasion I might do that is if someone is attacking another person without giving a point of view.
The last time I looked at this forum was after I posted the article at this time.
Posted by: Nick on May 27, 2005 11:32 PM
As you see I went to bed around midnight. Anything after that I have no knowledge of. Our system does occassionally have hiccups.
how sad this is… all inclusive of the convulted writing and thinking of nick.. you should work for bush.
not enough evidence & 20 yrs for grass??? what a joke. u are so not getting a penny from me nor the 1000 professionals (film that is) in my database.
i was traveling there is fall… hawaii instead
oh well. give her back … duh!
I always thought if your found guilty then your guilty , but this ones a weird one.
I still dont get it, why havnt they found any footage on her going to the airport when she left.There’s security cameras everywhere, surely they could find some thing in them to find the truth.It seems Corby’s lawyers didn’t try hard enough so maybe she is guilty.
Anyway for the people who aren’t travelling to bali any more, its a shame,just remember bad shit happens everywhere dont let it stop you doing the things you enjoy and remember the awsome balinese people that will loose out.
Im going to Bali in August for a week cant wait.
Blacky
Regardless of whether she is innocent or guilty I am insulted that Politicians say we should respect the Indonesian law system.
It is 100% corrupt as every institution is in Indonesia. Why do our politicians still treat Indonesia as a real country rather than the parastic state that it really is.
The thousands of chines raped in 96, the dead in Timor and the missing Tsunami money….all these things happened with no redress.
Now they tell us we should respect them?
Nah I only give them the respect they deserve…NOWT!!
Joe,
Thank you for your comment. If that’s the way you feel I thank you for sharing it.
Before you cross Bali off of your agenda because of ‘20 years for grass’, let me remind you of the hundreds of people in jail in the US, doing 20 years to life for drugs. Want to hear a joke? Its called the King-pin law. Under this law a person can be convicted of beingthe king-pin of a group if the others all testify against him (the others all recieving little or no sentence).
This is so open to abuse its incredible. I saw a news item where a young black kid wa doing in jail for life with no possibility of parole because he ‘talked about’ drug dealing with some other people. They were caught at a later date doing something else and pointed him out as the king-pin.
Did you also know that you can get a sentence of a friend or relative reduced by giving evidence against someone else? This is actually the case! I watched a 50 year old dad trying to trap local drug dealers so his son could get a lighter sentence for something else.
There are hundreds of young Americans in jail for 20 years + for LSD possession, don’t tell me their lives haven’t been ruined.
There are plenty of examples of harsh justice all around the world. Here in Indonesia the writing is written on the wall in bigger letters.
It amuses me to see all comments state that youre going to boycott BALI,
You will all forget very soon, people have very short memories, shapelle will dissappear, she will be off the radar.
The housing commission centrelink dole bludgers cannot resist going to bali, as soon as the airline offers you$5 off the airfare, you will be back in droves,
Plus why do you want to punish the local street vendor in DPS, they had nothing to do with this.
well they seem to be pigs rather than human beings in bali.
we must convince as many others as we can, not to go to that backward and primative place.
it’s amazing how uneducated the whole country is.
as well as what passes loosely for a stinking judge.
i hope they lose billions in tourist trade. as i’m sure they will with the help of the internet.
boycott bali they’re the real terrorists. let our schpelle go
Daniel AUST
you call the balinese PIGS, what a joke, what about that trailer trash of family that she comes from, pure tornado bait they are!
screaming and carrying on, who is uncivilised there!!!!!
look at the family that poor girl comes from, she never had a chance, a bushpig mother, drugged yobbo father, half islander half who knows what, no no no , they are all scum leave them in BALI,
Hello,
First, my apologies for the deletion comment. My comment disappeared for a while and I assumed it was deleted, based on an earlier posting noting the same thing. Now I see it’s back, so you are right, must be hiccups.
My, what a mix of comments we have here.
Readers, first, it’s important to keep in mind that Asian criminal justice systems tend to be results oriented. It’s not the same as a presumption of guilt, but close–the presumption is, “you have become involved in the system, so you must have done something wrong, or else you wouldn’t be involved in the system”.
Read the judgment (it’s on the Save a Life site). The judge repeatedly writes “It is true that…” (meaning it is a fact that) the drugs were found in her bag, and there was no factual basis to counter the logical explanation, i.e., they were hers. What else could the judge do? Is it unreasonable for him to think that any person in her position would do anything else but try to avoid punishment by coming up with alternative explanations that cannot be proved?
To all of you who write “don’t go to Bali”, well, if you enter any country with 9 pounds of pot in your bag, regardless of whether you put it there yourself or not, you are going to find yourself in big trouble. It seems to me that, if she is to be believed, it is Australia we should be avoiding, as she was a victim of baggage handlers there. So any travellers in Australia going anywhere face the same risk!
My advice, then is this: first, pack your own bags and keep them in sight. And, if you really want to proceed with an abundance of caution, lock them up in front of the check in counter, and add plastic lock strips to the bags (these can’t be tampered with–you have to cut them to open them). Make sure the person at the check in counter sees you. Then, when you collect your bag at the other end, look at it carefully first to see if it’s been tampered with. If so, don’t touch it and call security.
Seems a bit silly, I know.
Ken, that has to be one of the most moronic statements I’ve ever had the misfortune to read.
I feel sorry for you.
Rich, I think your comment is dead on.
Bennett, people DO blame America all of the time for the actions of our President…that was my point. I’m certainly not gonna’ join in THAT mentality. I’ve travelled to many countries in this world, and one thing it has taught me is that no matter how badly we may think of a government, people all over the planet are generally kind and good-hearted. That’s my personal experience. As far as boycotts go, I may not agree with you, but I certainly applaud you for doing what you believe is right, and using what power you have. I just think it might be misguided.
-Ciao
An Indonesian (or Australian Court) could not the evidence make a finding other than that of guilty. That evidence (taken from the transcript) is as follows:
1. Corby was asked to open the bag containing the marijuana.
2. She “looked very nervous about opening the bag”.
3. When asked to open the bag, she replied “No”.
4. When customs officers opened the bag, they asked about the
marijuana, “What is this?”
5. Corby replied “It’s mine”.
On this evidence alone and without going any further, it is difficult to see what other conclusion the Court could have been reached. The defence’s evidence against was at best flimsy and is difficult to see how any Court anywhere, applying normal principles of evidence, could
have accepted it as a rebuttal of the case against Corby.
The main argument raised in Corby’s favour, in the public debate here in Australia, is “why would you have taken drugs to Bali where it is freely and cheaply available”?. The answer is found in this article from The Age, an Australian newspaper:
“While drugs might seem freely available on the streets, the foreigners who live in Bali, including those serving time in Kerobokan jail, say that buying them is a very risky business because you never know if the seller is an undercover police officer or a police informer.
For that reason, westerners in Bali are prepared to pay premium prices for marijuana if they can get it from other Westerners, as that’s the best way to ensure they are not going to be trapped and arrested…
One European man, now serving a jail term for possessing hashish, said he knows of several Australians who have been bringing strong hydroponic marijuana into Bali. He said it brings “really good money”, getting a price around 50 per cent higher than the Nepalese hashish that is more widely available for around $A16 a gram
on the streets.”
As for the intemperate views expressed in the public debate about the “defects” of the Indonesian legal system (a bit rich when you think that the US Supreme Court shamefully stole from Al Gore the election which he won), from all accounts, the Indonesian legal system post-democracy is working quite well and fairly compared to what was there previously during the period of the US and Australian -backed dictatorship in Indonesia. For anyone who is interested, see the Sydney Morning Herald’s commentary at http://www.smh.com.au/news/Opinion/Fact-and-fiction-in-the-Corby-case/2005/05/26/1116950819084.htm Did anyone complain when that same legal system swiftly convicted the Bali bombers after a trial that was praised in Australia for its fairness and efficient dispensation of justice (one of the judges in the Corby case was also a judge in the trial of the Bali bombers - death sentences were handed down)?
I have never seen before anything quite like pressure applied on the Indonesian government and courts in this matter including the utterly improper comments made by Kim Beazley the leader of the opposition in Australia. It really made me ashamed of being Australian. It would just have been tragic if the Indonesians had buckled to these pressures and allowed them to interfere with the due operation of the law. Theirs is a fledgling democracy with only just the beginning of an independent judiciary. I think that they can derive great satisfaction from the fact that their legal system worked as it should have without succumbing to political or other outside pressure.
There is also no point in talking about the severity of the sentence compared to the kind of sentence that would have been handed down in the US or Australia. It is not for outsiders to tell the Indonesians that this is what they should do or not in drafting or enforcing their laws. What would we think if they turned around and started lecturing Western countries on anti-terror laws? I would not like it if Indonesians or anyone else tries to influence our government and Courts if an Indonesian in Australia were being tried in an Australian Court.
When going to a foreign country, one simply needs to observe the law and accept that there will be differences (including in the severity of punishment). Travellers to South East Asia leaving Australia are forewarned about the harsh penalties for drug offences including the death penalty.
For Indonesians reading this blog, please know that despite the behavior of our press and the intemperate comments by some politicians in Australia, there are enough of us who think that justice has been properly administered in this matter. I am convinced that as more of the facts come to light, more and more people here will change their views.
What I sense in some of the comments in the public debate is a supremacist and contemptuous attitude towards Indonesia - I won’t use the “R” word - and find these comments disturbing to say the least. I am sorry to say that the behaviour of Corby’s friends and supporters both here in Australia and in Bali also reflect similar attitudes. I have only too often seen young badly behaved Westerners in Bali and
places such as Thailand, Goa and Southern Europe showing little regard for the places they are visiting and the local people. Sad as this may be for Ms Corby, her fate may be serve as a lesson that long gone are the days when young Westerners can go anywhere in the world and indulge every whim and fancy without any regard for the sensitivities of the local people.
Finally, as for the comments on not giving aid to Indonesia, if the price for accepting aid is to put with the corruption of the legal system to suit the donor’s requirements (if that is what is being suggested), then the decision made by the Indians not to accept aid when the Tsunami hit, sounds like it may have the right one – and the point will not be unnoticed by Indonesians. Not only did they look after themselves but provide considerable aid of their own to other affected countries like Sri Lanka.
An Indonesian (or Australian Court) could not the evidence make a finding other than that of guilty. That evidence (taken from the transcript) is as follows:
1. Corby was asked to open the bag containing the marijuana.
2. She “looked very nervous about opening the bag”.
3. When asked to open the bag, she replied “No”.
4. When customs officers opened the bag, they asked about the
marijuana, “What is this?”
5. Corby replied “It’s mine”.
On this evidence alone and without going any further, it is difficult to see what other conclusion the Court could have been reached. The defence’s evidence against was at best flimsy and is difficult to see how any Court anywhere, applying normal principles of evidence, could
have accepted it as a rebuttal of the case against Corby.
The main argument raised in Corby’s favour, in the public debate here in Australia, is “why would you have taken drugs to Bali where it is freely and cheaply available”?. The answer is found in this article from The Age, an Australian newspaper:
“While drugs might seem freely available on the streets, the foreigners who live in Bali, including those serving time in Kerobokan jail, say that buying them is a very risky business because you never know if the seller is an undercover police officer or a police informer.
For that reason, westerners in Bali are prepared to pay premium prices for marijuana if they can get it from other Westerners, as that’s the best way to ensure they are not going to be trapped and arrested…
One European man, now serving a jail term for possessing hashish, said he knows of several Australians who have been bringing strong hydroponic marijuana into Bali. He said it brings “really good money”, getting a price around 50 per cent higher than the Nepalese hashish that is more widely available for around $A16 a gram
on the streets.”
As for the intemperate views expressed in the public debate about the “defects” of the Indonesian legal system (a bit rich when you think that the US Supreme Court shamefully stole from Al Gore the election which he won), from all accounts, the Indonesian legal system post-democracy is working quite well and fairly compared to what was there previously during the period of the US and Australian -backed dictatorship in Indonesia. For anyone who is interested, see the Sydney Morning Herald’s commentary at http://www.smh.com.au/news/Opinion/Fact-and-fiction-in-the-Corby-case/2005/05/26/1116950819084.htm Did anyone complain when that same legal system swiftly convicted the Bali bombers after a trial that was praised in Australia for its fairness and efficient dispensation of justice (one of the judges in the Corby case was also a judge in the trial of the Bali bombers - death sentences were handed down)?
I have never seen before anything quite like pressure applied on the Indonesian government and courts in this matter including the utterly improper comments made by Kim Beazley the leader of the opposition in Australia. It really made me ashamed of being Australian. It would just have been tragic if the Indonesians had buckled to these pressures and allowed them to interfere with the due operation of the law. Theirs is a fledgling democracy with only just the beginning of an independent judiciary. I think that they can derive great satisfaction from the fact that their legal system worked as it should have without succumbing to political or other outside pressure.
There is also no point in talking about the severity of the sentence compared to the kind of sentence that would have been handed down in the US or Australia. It is not for outsiders to tell the Indonesians that this is what they should do or not in drafting or enforcing their laws. What would we think if they turned around and started lecturing Western countries on anti-terror laws? I would not like it if Indonesians or anyone else tries to influence our government and Courts if an Indonesian in Australia were being tried in an Australian Court.
When going to a foreign country, one simply needs to observe the law and accept that there will be differences (including in the severity of punishment). Travellers to South East Asia leaving Australia are forewarned about the harsh penalties for drug offences including the death penalty.
For Indonesians reading this blog, please know that despite the behavior of our press and the intemperate comments by some politicians in Australia, there are enough of us who think that justice has been properly administered in this matter. I am convinced that as more of the facts come to light, more and more people here will change their views.
What I sense in some of the comments in the public debate is a supremacist and contemptuous attitude towards Indonesia - I won’t use the “R” word - and find these comments disturbing to say the least. I am sorry to say that the behaviour of Corby’s friends and supporters both here in Australia and in Bali also reflect similar attitudes. I have only too often seen young badly behaved Westerners in Bali and
places such as Thailand, Goa and Southern Europe showing little regard for the places they are visiting and the local people. Sad as this may be for Ms Corby, her fate may be serve as a lesson that long gone are the days when young Westerners can go anywhere in the world and indulge every whim and fancy without any regard for the sensitivities of the local people.
Finally, as for the comments on not giving aid to Indonesia, if the price for accepting aid is to put with the corruption of the legal system to suit the donor’s requirements (if that is what is being suggested), then the decision made by the Indians not to accept aid when the Tsunami hit, sounds like it may have the right one – and the point will not be unnoticed by Indonesians. Not only did they look after themselves but provide considerable aid of their own to other affected countries like Sri Lanka.
Nick, you said “Whether she knew about the drugs or not, I think it’s true to say she will never be caught doing the same again.”
Well if she didn’t know about the drugs how will she avoid being framed in the future.
Craig,
Unless she is acquitted on appeal, a side effect of her drug conviction will be that as a legal matter, after she serves her sentence and is then deported, she won’t be able to leave Australia for years; most countries have laws barring people with criminal convictions from entering. There are ways, but they are complicated and involve, e.g., proving one’s “rehabilitation” (very difficult in drug cases). So she won’t have to be worried about future frame ups (at least those involving foreign travel) for a while….
Cheers.
Lex’s comments are most interesting:
“While drugs might seem freely available on the streets, the foreigners who live in Bali, including those serving time in Kerobokan jail, say that buying them is a very risky business because you never know if the seller is an undercover police officer or a police informer.
If that is true, than the corruption is well intermingled with their criminal justice system. As such, the crime, if she did do it, is being held up as an example, selective prosecution as it were. The conditions that led to the decision to important high-end ganja to Bali is from the inability of Indonesian to control corruption of their own police, who theoretically has sworn an oath of office to protect and serve the laws of the land and not perjury themselves. It seems widespread knowledge that perjury and criminal drug traffic are part of the SOP of the Bali police.
So what is the point of this incarceration? What is achieved?
At what cost? What message are the Indonesians really trying to send to Australia and the rest of the world in this action?
I am sure more well come out on this, however my points on this remain the same:
1) The punishment is not fitting the crime appropriately
For Gawd sakes this is a friggin plant and less dangerous to the body of the roadways than beer.
2) The legal process in Bali (guilt until proven innocent) is wrong no matter where or by whom this approach is employed. Uncivilized in other words
3) Boycotts and strikes are one legal and democratic method of sending a message in the event of perceived injustice and an available option for those who feel strongly on an issue.
As we do, absent the change in the legal model in Bali, we will choose to travel to other countries instead. As for the US, we are already here, and I cannot defend what our government has done, nor will I. We are in a blue state and this is the most polarized I have seen this country in my lifetime, though as a historian, I understand during the Civil war in the 1860’s things got a little testy as well,
New Thoughts
� Australian government seems to be wimpy on this considering the combo of their $1B in aide and their apparent unspoken fear of the Indonesians as a possibly enemy.
Stiff upper lip aside, they could stand up and support this matter on other issues that whether she did or didn’t do it
� Corby is clearly a pawn in this. The point of disdain I have with this is user her as one and “how they [the authorities] played the game. Putting aside her negotiation of film rights and a book, the women’s life has been irrevocably altered. the economic cost to this is illogical as is the drug war in general. Government needs to focus on protedcting and serving their people, educating them, housing them, seeing to their well being.
This action, and the drug war in general, is off that topic and mission and only creates a robust black market at best.
Bennett
This is a very unfortunate and sad story. The only problem I have is that all these people who have left comments think that it is allright to break the laws of foreign countries and that her sentence is outrageous. Maybe her sentence is outrageous but she made the decision to bring the drugs into Bali knowing that it was a very dangerous undertaking. When people travel to foriegn lands they must respect and adhere to the local laws and customs. 2o years is a lot of time but she should have thought about that before she decided to smuggle the drugs into Indonesia. She would have probally made a lot of money had she gotten away with it. The people who say she is innocent are stupid and ignorant to the laws of Indonesia. If you were to bring 9 pounds of pot into New York JFK and get caught you would probally go to jail for along time. The people who say i will never travel to Bali again because some girl got arrested for smugglin pot into a country that has no tolerance for illicit drugs are also ignorant. And if that is your attitude about visiting Bali then we dont want you hear to begin with. MARIJUANA IS ILLEGAL IN INDONESIA JUST LIKE IN AUSTRALIA. DONT COME TO BALI IF YOU WANT TO SMOKE POT. GO TO AMSTERDAM OR PORTUGAL. GOD BLESS THE YOUNG LADY.
We have been to Bali 6 times, but never again. It’s just backward & has primative laws and filled with infidels who wouldn’t know if their arses were on fire. If there were another disaster over in Indonesia, they would get Jack Shit from us. I hope everyone stops going there. Hit them where it hurts, in the back pocket. I hope they all go down the drain for what they’ve done to Schapelle. She is innocent. The judicial system is like the backwaters of the mississippi, filled with Judges who are rednecks and don’t know the law. Go to hell Bali.
How can you comment on what this innocent person looks like. This person is an Australian and is being held hostage by a country who has no moral respect for its citizens let alone alone an innocent Australian.
California gal here. I will NEVER, EVER visit to Bali after this news story. Police could snatch away my husband or daughter for who knows what. And I could expect no sympathy from my community, as the U.S. strongly warns against travel to Indonesia. It sounds like a very frightening place, and anybody who goes is just asking for it.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_918.html
That’s pretty much it Cali
Why risk it?
There are MANY other places to go where you don’t need to worry about getting shot or locked up forever for the crime of not locking your bag.
Like people have said. We can’t make them have reasonable laws. That’s a fair comment. Nobody can tell them what to do. That’s fair enough as well.
But nobody can make me go to Bali. If they want to be so heavy handed and convict anyone who’s even been accused then I’ll go to Fiji or New Zealand.
Hi,
Let’s not forget one thing–if she is to be believed, it is the fault of Australian baggage handlers who mistakenly placed the pot in her bag. This has nothing to do with Bali per se; with 9 pounds of drugs, she’d be in jail wherever she travelled. Imagine what her situation would be now if she’d gone to Singapore, for example, which has a mandatory death penalty for traffickers. Who out there thinks a Singapore judge would have let her walk?
Hi,
Let’s not forget one thing–if she is to be believed, it is the fault of Australian baggage handlers who mistakenly placed the pot in her bag. This has nothing to do with Bali per se; with 9 pounds of drugs, she’d be in jail wherever she travelled. Imagine what her situation would be now if she’d gone to Singapore, for example, which has a mandatory death penalty for traffickers. Who out there thinks a Singapore judge would have let her walk?
Hi,
Let’s not forget one thing–if she is to be believed, it is the fault of Australian baggage handlers who mistakenly placed the pot in her bag. This has nothing to do with Bali per se; with 9 pounds of drugs, she’d be in jail wherever she travelled. Imagine what her situation would be now if she’d gone to Singapore, for example, which has a mandatory death penalty for traffickers. Who out there thinks a Singapore judge would have let her walk?
Hi,
Let’s not forget one thing–if she is to be believed, it is the fault of Australian baggage handlers who mistakenly placed the pot in her bag. This has nothing to do with Bali per se; with 9 pounds of drugs, she’d be in jail wherever she travelled. Imagine what her situation would be now if she’d gone to Singapore, for example, which has a mandatory death penalty for traffickers. Who out there thinks a Singapore judge would have let her walk?
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