About That Aussie Chick In Bali

[udon]

She may have packed other items in the bag.

Her dad helped her pack her bag.

The bag was out of her sight from checkin at BNE until pickup at Denpasar Airport, she opened the bag voluntarily at Indon customs and has no priors for anything.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

She may have packed other items in the bag.

Her dad helped her pack her bag.

The bag was out of her sight from checkin at BNE until pickup at Denpasar Airport, she opened the bag voluntarily at Indon customs and has no priors for anything.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Someone told me that she admitted to being an occasional user on a 60 minutes program in Oz. Did you see it ?

[chuchok]

She may have packed other items in the bag.

Her dad helped her pack her bag.

The bag was out of her sight from checkin at BNE until pickup at Denpasar Airport, she opened the bag voluntarily at Indon customs and has no priors for anything.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Someone told me that she admitted to being an occasional user on a 60 minutes program in Oz. Did you see it ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think everyone has looked over the point that she is a 'fit' lass and would never do something like this with those beautiful blue eyes.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Those blue eyes make all the difference

[udon]

TODAY ........ SMH

Baggage handlers 'paid $300,000' in drug plot

May 11, 2005

AAP

Qantas baggage handlers were paid $300,000 to smuggle a briefcase of cocaine through Sydney airport, a court was told today.

The allegation was set out in court documents tendered during a bail hearing for Ian Robert Chalmers, 40, charged over an alleged conspiracy to import $15 million of cocaine into Australia.

A police statement of facts tendered to the court detailed the crime ring's operations as told to Operation Mocha officers by an informant.

In it, Qantas baggage handlers were identified as being part of the long-running operation, smuggling a briefcase containing 9.9 kilograms of cocaine through the airport on October 8 last year.

The documents also said the baggage handlers were paid a total of $300,000 for their part.

Chalmers, a former Macquarie Bank director, was refused bail by Sydney's Central Local Court.

Chalmers is one of 12 men charged over the alleged drug import racket. Another of those charged was Shane Desmond Hatfield, 40, of Bondi.

Leslie Robert Mara, 52, a Balmain rugby league player during the 1970s, and Michael Nicholas Hurley, 58, are wanted by police over the matter.

The papers tendered in court stated: "Hurley and Mara had responsibility for securing arrangements with Qantas baggage handlers at the international airport so that a briefcase containing cocaine could be imported into Australia on a commercial airline flight from South America and removed before it was subject to Customs examination."

------------------------

This is just the tip of the iceberg!

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Bali are doing a great job to encourage frightened tourists to return since the bomb.

[udon]

If the security at BNE & SYD domestic & Intl had their act together, none of this may not have happened.

Very strange to be sending dope the wrong way.....

[gburns57au]

She may have packed other items in the bag.

Her dad helped her pack her bag.

The bag was out of her sight from checkin at BNE until pickup at Denpasar Airport, she opened the bag voluntarily at Indon customs and has no priors for anything.

Someone told me that she admitted to being an occasional user on a 60 minutes program in Oz. Did you see it ?

I believe her sister is the occasional user....she has denied any use.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

I'm not part of the decriminalisation league and never enjoyed the experience as a student when I was an occasional user, however, being one doesn't make her a criminal worthy of her punishment.

There's a big difference between a big fat bag of weed at an Indonesian airport and the ocasional toke at a mates pool party.

If the government of Indonesia are reading this, I would like them to know that I was coming over with lots of rich friends next year to have a long holiday and spend lots of money but we have since changed our mind.

We are not drug users, we drink a lot and spend a lot but I think Phuket could make better use of our cash.

[donna]

I remember that 60 minutes interview. Liz Hayes I think did it.

Schapelle admitted that she had experimented as a kid but that was about it. She does not use drugs now and is quite anti.

I do not believe for a second that she is guilty of this. It screams 'set up' and I hope that she gets off.

Those 9 twits who got caught a couple of weeks ago, however, are a completely different story.

[Thomas_Merton]

I'm not part of the decriminalisation league and never enjoyed the experience as a student when I was an occasional user, however, being one doesn't make her a criminal worthy of her punishment.

There's a big difference between a big fat bag of weed at an Indonesian airport and the ocasional toke at a mates pool party.

If the government of Indonesia are reading this, I would like them to know that I was coming over with lots of rich friends next year to have a long holiday and spend lots of money but we have since changed our mind.

We are not drug users, we drink a lot and spend a lot but I think Phuket could make better use of our cash.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bet Indonesia is pretty relieved.

Phuket will probably comment after the event.

[udon]

Those 9 twits who got caught a couple of weeks ago, however, are a completely different story.

Agreed....Caught with their pants down........ literarly(sp)

Edit......

SMH

Behind the scenes, believers put the pressure on

By Matthew Moore

May 12, 2005

When the Denpasar District Court sits today for the last time before the verdict, a smattering of Corby family members and friends will be joined by a small band of Australian supporters.

They'll sit together on the benches on the right-hand side, just as they do each Thursday morning when the weekly hearings take place.

Young and old, men and women, they'll wait politely in the steamy heat, most with yellow ribbons tied to their wrists, some holding hastily written signs proclaiming "Corby Innocent" and "Free Schapelle".

They'll listen for a while, but they won't understand anything of the Indonesian language used in the court. But these disciples don't need to - all carry a heartfelt belief Corby is innocent.

A Sydney man in his 60s who was there last week with his wife didn't want to give his name but was happy to share his view of what's happened.

"It's been a stew from the moment it started," he said.

"The luggage weights they can't find, the video footage they can't find. It's the little things - they just don't gel. In Australia, it never would have got to court."

The tactics of Corby's defence team might not have convinced the judges of Corby's innocence, but they have been spectacularly successful in convincing Australians that a huge injustice is taking place in Bali.

The legal problems facing Corby have proved insurmountable from the start, so the strategy has always been to try to get the Australian Government on side.

It's an approach backed by Helene Le Touzey, a Frenchwoman who moved to Bali five years ago to care for her son serving a life sentence for importing 3.8 kilograms of hashish. She says there's so little chance of overturning a prosecution case in the court, it's better to lobby the Government, as she has done, and build the case for clemency or for a prisoner repatriation agreement.

In Corby's case, that job has largely fallen to Vasu Rasiah, a Sri Lankan-born Australian who lives in Bali and who has acted as a spokesman for Corby and has steadily wound up the pressure on the Australian Government.

In the early days of the campaign, Rasiah tried to take a back seat, refusing even to give his full name in interviews, hoping he could somehow escalate the debate from the sidelines without getting drawn into it.

But as he slammed airport authorities for failing to provide footage from closed-circuit TVs, and railed against the Federal Police, he was soon forced into public view.

His message slowly took hold and the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, agreed to meet him and emerged making it clear he wanted a reluctant Federal Police force to help Corby by testing the marijuana to find out where it was grown.

In the end the Indonesian police declined the AFP's offer to help with the testing, but the tactic has worked. The Prime Minister, John Howard, has been drawn into the issue and two ministers, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, and the Justice Minister, Chris Ellison, have already been to Jakarta to lobby against the death penalty for Corby and to begin negotiations on a prisoner repatriation agreement.

Corby has not been much of an issue in Indonesia, but when Indonesia's president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, visited Australia this year even he could not avoid commenting on the case, insisting he wanted justice done.

Her lawyers have won their fight to make the case a national issue in Australia; whether that makes any difference to her fate will be seen soon enough.

Edited May 11, 2005 by udon

[chuchok]

There are far too many questions in this case to convict Schapelle beyound resonable doubt,however this is the Indonesian justice system and not ours.

If she is convicted, I can only hope that people will let the Indonesian Govt. know our thoughts. Personally, I will send them an e-mail telling them that they will never get a dollar from myself.An attitude like this might not help the people in Bali,but tough titties as far as I am concerned.Taking money away from them is probably the only way they will learn.

[kayo]

ALERT..................ALERT.......................ALERT........................

LERT.....................

WARNING: IT IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR YOU TO TRAVEL.......................

                  9/11....................BALI..............JAKARTA.....................MADRID......

..

                  AND NOW POOR AUSSIE BEAUTICIANS ...................................

PEOPLE BE WARNED.......................DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HOMES...........STAY INSIDE................DRAW THE CURTAINS......DIM THE LIGHTS........................

THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU...............................

I'd say it's drug induced paranoia...........relax DaveYo have another toke son it'll be OK!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[udon]

Unfortunately the is no such thing in Indon law as "beyond reaonable doubt".

I think the Troika have already made up their minds.

The main judge certainly has.... Screw Bali!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The Bali 9 deal isn't in her favour either

[Pink Mist]

slightly off topic, one bag was tampered with, and believe it or not about 5, 1 kilo bags of chocolate easter eggs stolen.

It was a zip up bag which was intended as carry on, but when weighed it was too heavy, Strife had loaded 15 k of chocs in :blink

Reckon it got swiped in KL, if only there was some way of getting a message to the thieves that they contained pig lard

[udon]

Corby judge unmoved as PM steps in

By Matthew Moore and Karuni Rompies in Jakarta and Mike Seccombe

May 16, 2005

The chief prosecutor in the Schapelle Corby case fears the Australian Government is trying to influence the verdict with a letter that details new accusations of baggage handlers smuggling drugs.

The Prime Minister, John Howard, yesterday said "I feel for the girl" when he revealed the Government's letter - sent to Corby's defence - would be tendered to the court in Bali before it delivers its verdict next week.

But the chief judge in the case, Linton Sirait, said the letter would make no difference to the decision on 27-year-old Corby, who faces life in a Balinese jail if she is found guilty of importing 4.1 kilograms of marijuana.

While Mr Howard insisted he was not interfering in Indonesia's justice system, the chief prosecutor, Ida Bagus Wiswantanu, said the letter had no legal standing and should be ignored.

"I cannot say the Australian Government is interfering but surely whoever sent the letter will try to gain influence in the decision," Mr Wiswantanu said.

tJudge Sirait did not believe there had been any intervention, but said: "We don't watch what happens in Australia. We just keep moving with what we are doing. We don't read Australian papers. We don't think it's important to follow developments in Australia."

Mr Howard said: "I cannot interfere in the justice system of another country. It's fundamental to our system of democracy that the executive arm of government doesn't interfere with the judiciary and I know that if a foreigner … were arrested in Australia and charged with an offence and the president or PM of another country started telling our courts what to do, Australians would be mightily angry.

"But having said all of that, I feel for the girl. I think the whole country has been drawn into this and I can only repeat my fervent hope that the verdict is true and fair and right and just."

The Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, went further, saying he hoped Corby was acquitted, and pressed the Government to complete a prisoner-exchange agreement with Indonesia, to repatriate her if she was not.

"I think the hearts of all Australians are with her," Mr Beazley told Channel Nine's Sunday. "Now, if the verdict goes the wrong way, and I sincerely hope she's acquitted, but if it goes in the opposite direction … the Government must complete its agreement with Indonesia, as it has with a number of other countries." Mr Beazley later clarified his comments to the Herald: "It doesn't suggest I've made a judgement she's innocent. I just hope she's innocent."

Mr Wiswantanu said the only way for Corby to be acquitted was to prove that someone placed the marijuana in her luggage. "Of course I have the heart for justice. If she's not guilty she has to be free, but in this case she's guilty."

Mr Howard said the Attorney-General had "settled" the letter on Friday, but Corby's lawyers were unhappy with it yesterday. They said it should have gone directly to the chief justice, and it did not contain any of the specific information they needed to help prove baggage handlers placed the marijuana in her luggage.

They wanted the Government to admit directly that baggage handlers had been involved in moving drugs and that may mean Corby is innocent.

The Government's letter said: "Following a joint investigation which has been conducted over the last six months, the [Australian Federal Police] and the NSW police have dismantled a Sydney-based syndicate involved in the trafficking of drugs.

"Police are currently investigating a number of baggage handlers who work at Sydney's international airport about these drug trafficking activities. The police believe the baggage handlers were on duty on 8 October 2004 when a shipment of drugs was brought into Sydney international airport."

Mr Beazley suggested the Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, had been unwise to make comments interpreted as damaging to Corby.

____________

Let's hope Mick the Mouth Keelty can shutup until the verdict.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

It is now said that her mobile phone bank roller has gone broke. Is that true Johnno ?

[udon]

He surely has financial probs. See todays SMH.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/05/15/1116095853857.html

[dr_Pat_Pong]

He surely has financial probs. See todays SMH.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/05/15/1116095853857.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looking a bit iffy for her isn't it ?

[udon]

It's been iffy since day 1.

Indons have the same problem with 'face' as the Thais.

Cannot admit a cockup so issue a guilty verdict , then do a deal with the SolGen in Aus.

But it may take years.......meanwhile she rots in a Bali jail while they sort something out.

Mad Ron seems to thrive on publicity, a bit like an Oz aviation conman currently trying to con the Ghanaian govt at present.

Same-same financial track record.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

What's the tale with Corby's freshly surfaced brother ?

[udon]

What's the tale with Corby's freshly surfaced brother ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Eh? Do you have a link?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I was told that it was on 60 mins in Oz last night. He was with her when she was nicked, and my friend said he thought the brother didn't come over too well. Go to the 60 min website.

[udon]

Nothing last night, I watched it.

[udon]

Update!

Last-ditch bid by Corby team.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/05/16/1116095908690.html

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Too little too late But Little John cannot presume to impose Australia's thoughts in the matter on Indonesia. The 10,000 signatures will cause more trouble for Corby than it is worth. It will be seen as an affront to the judicial system. They need asianists to guide 'em lest they screw up.

[lampard10]

The Bali bombers entered the country carrying enough explosives to blow a large building to Kingdom come undetected. This is Bali's response that they're not stupid and can in fact catch master criminals and mass murderers red-handed. Unfortunately, as is the wont with most of the countries in the SE Asia region, they have completely fcuked up,and got everything arse about apex.Instead of looking to improve relations with a country who lost so many of it's citizens through their incompetance, they seem to have rubbed salt in the wound, just as the average Australian thought it was safe to travel to paradise again. OK, I might be wrong,but I have a gut feeling that she is innocent.

Edited May 17, 2005 by lampard10

[Pink Mist]

Don't forget the 9 mules got caught because the AFP tipped the indos off.

In Corby's case 4 k is a lot of gange and I reckon easily detected, I still think the stuff was bound for Sydney and somehow the baggage handlers missed it.

The other Ozzie they caught last week with a pin head of hash they've probably kept him for a rainy day for ages.