Schapelle: The Big Day approaches in Denpasar Bali
The big day approaches. The Australian media have built this event up to be bigger than the AFL Final, more exciting than the State Of Origin and more intriguing than the OJ Simpson trial. Schapelle Corby will soon hear the verdict of the Denpasar court on Friday and after will hear her sentence, if found guilty. The 3 judges will talk about the charges, the evidence, the prosecutions case, the defenses case and then how everything plays out according to the law. Shortly afterwards the verdict will be delivered.
I was reading recently that Indonesia has an inquisitional court system handed down from the Dutch. Many countries in Europe still use that system, including Spain for example. Under that system the judge directs the questioning and rakes through the evidence. This is in contrast to the adversarial system favoured by other countries including the US, where the defense and prosecution can call witnesses and cross-examine. Under the inquisitional system the judge may ask a defendant, What is your alibi?
Here in Indonesia there are no rules governing the admission of evidence. The judges themselves will decide the relevance of anything put before them. Street smarts tell you that here in Bali if the police say you are guilty, you pretty much have to prove your innocence. I know it is written into law here that you are innocent until proved guilty, but when they say, You bad man, you better be able to prove them wrong.
I personally hope the court gives Schapelle some breathing room on the sentence if she is found guilty. I do not believe she has been able to prove her innocence and the judge said the other day he has never found a drug defendant innocent, and had never given less than a 5 year sentence. If he can give Schapelle 5 years perhaps that can be served in Australia and she will have a chance of return to a normal life.
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
Thanks for the update…amazingly, being from the States, I haven’t really heard much about this case : ( I’m a big proponent of respecting local laws when traveling, but I sure hope they go easy on her…hopefully they will at least let her serve her time in Australia…but perhaps they will want to make an example of her : (
I’m thinking good thoughts for her!
G’Day Nick,
The three major commercial TV stations have live broadcasts from DPS courtroom. At the moment (10am WST), she is holding her own and looking good but very nervous as can be expected.
But, you are right about the media hype - it’s ridiculous the way these leeches suck everything dry. I think their presence is making Corby more nervous!.
I would imagine many tourists will now think twice about Indonesia as a destination. This is not the first time an Australian has been unjustly treated by the authorities there. I’ve cancelled my trip - NZ’s looking very fine!
I am one of millions who are shocked to hear the verdict for Schapell Corby. I know that I will do everything in my power to boycott Bali and Indonesia for what they feel is justice. Their argument that the drug trade is so bad that they target the innocent is unacceptable. They need to wake up to the fact that with the technology that the world is privy to that they can prosecute the real criminals. I feel that the judges are ignorant and I wish every bit of bad karma that can happen happen to them.
Please join me in boycotting Bali.
Calling for a boycott on tourism in Bali because of one verdict which may or may not have been accurate is as stupid as boycotting Australia because of them locking up children in detention centres. Anyone who fronts up to a customs officer anywhere in the world with drugs has a lot of explaining to do. Nobody had any faith in Indonesian justice system before or after this verdict. Still I am in Bali now and the environmental problems longterm will put me off Bali but not the Corby case. Yes we all know the drug laws worldwide are stupid. Adeng adeng.
Yeah - a boycott is stupid in a way - but a short sharp one - which is all it’d ever be, as there is too much money being made out of Bali junkets for anybody to do it for long, would at least send a msg to the Indos that we at least think the severity of punishment is unjust.
I don’t think an organised boycott is necissary.
My partner and I have been thinking about rewarding ourselves with a trip to Bali for about 2 years. We are now looking at other locations. The impression we now have it that if we are are acused of possessing drugs, we’ll go to prison. Simple as that. There are *numerous* stories of people finding contraban in their luggage (not just drugs). In each case, consular officials instruct these people to flush the items then flee the country. If her finger prints were found: guilty. Video of her confession: guilty. Any other corroborating evidence beside a description of her reaction when the bag was opened by two officials whom have since had zero opportunity to retract their testimony: guilty. In this case, and it appears *every* previous trial put before the judge, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
It is a definition of justice I am not familiar with, and one I now have no intention of familiarising myself with.
I don’t think an organised boycott is necissary.
My partner and I have been thinking about rewarding ourselves with a trip to Bali for about 2 years. We are now looking at other locations. The impression we now have it that if we are are acused of possessing drugs, we’ll go to prison. Simple as that. There are *numerous* stories of people finding contraban in their luggage (not just drugs). In each case, consular officials instruct these people to flush the items then flee the country. If her finger prints were found: guilty. Video of her confession: guilty. Any other corroborating evidence beside a description of her reaction when the bag was opened by two officials whom have since had zero opportunity to retract their testimony: guilty. In this case, and it appears *every* previous trial put before the judge, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
It is a definition of justice I am not familiar with, and one I now have no intention of familiarising myself with.
Judge Linton Sirat( who is trying the Schapelle Corby case) would have to be the most cold hardened monster to ever sit behind the bench,he isn,t interested in the fact that Shapelle Corby could be innocent,which we all know is the case,she showed us she is innocent.
The judges don,t care because they are ignorant,including judge Linton Sirait who I have found out has no experience as a judge,in fact he was once in prison himself,the fact that he has never aquitted any drug smuggler,even the innocent accused shows what a two faced monster he is,if this case were to take place in Australia,Shapelle Corby would have been found innocent.
The bali court and the indonesian justice system is the most corrupt system in the world,the police, the customs at the Bali airport and the Judges are all corrupt,they take bribes and kickbacks ,they also use crimes to finance their lifestyles,this case is unfair,it is nothing more than a kangaroo court,I would never visit bali,Bali is a joke.
Boycott Bali at all costs,or you could end up in jail for something you have not done.
Free Shapelle Corby,she needs all the support you can give her.
If all Australians boycott Bali, who will visit Schapelle Corby and the
Bali 9? Your friendly Balinese?
Those who think she is innocent point the finger at the unknown baggage
handler�who AFAIK is in Australia, not Bali.
So boycott airports.
My personal opinion is that with the defence she put up, she would have
been convicted anywhere in the world.
Chika Honda and a few other Japanese spent 10 years in an Australian
prison, IMHO in a similar case. Look it up and see. Heartless
Australians? Boycott Australia? Kangaroo court? (well, yes, actually).
She was as guilty as sin. Her Dad has cancer. Her Dad is in Bali.Pot is a good painkiller\treatment for cancer sufferers. The family has a record of drug use. She knew the risks and thought she could get away with it. If you thought you could help your suffering father wouldn’t you do the same?. Why take a boogy board to Bali when your brother has a surf shop in Bali. Wouldn’t you just borrow one from him?
I recalled that when the same court sentenced The Bali Bombers, you guys celebrated and said that the verdict was appropriate. Now, for the Corby case, opposite comments are approriate.
Accusing that ‘the customs at the Bali airport and the Judges are all corrupt’ a little bit too emotional, I think. We do aware that our systems are not as good as yours, but hey.. SBY is trying hard to make them right..
Boycott Bali ? I have no comment on this..
yah - about the bali bombers…how many years did they get for killing 200 people?…
Like most Kiwis,I think the Judicial System leaves a lot to be desired,and the initial boycott Bali sounded good….
but who will we be hurting……. The ordinary workers in the Hotels,and running the Restaurants,Stores etc. The “Fat Cats” in the Government,and at the top of the pole will always come out ahead,no matter what.
By not going there,we are hurting the lovely people,who have always made the country a joy for me and my friends to visit.It is hard enough for them to make ends meet at times,without bringing our anger to bear on them……….just my opinion.
engineerf,
they got death penalty. I’m sick telling each of you all the time that Bali bombers got death sentence, the information that you can find easily in the internet. How can you be so that ignorant?
I think schapell corby is innociet and there is not much prouf that she is guilty.
schapell has 2 b innocent bali sucks d**k those f**ken f*gs need 2 lighten up on her i feel sorry 4 her family. i reckon u should just boom bali nd let all the mother f**kers die
Come on Maddog tell us what you really think.
Hi Nick,will be back in Bali in two weeks and need to know where l can purchase congkah games
(plastic)for my daughters school here in Australia.Thanks. Gina