Dog drama: Johnny Depp's wife charged with smuggling pooches into Australia

[webfact]

Dog drama: Johnny Depp's wife charged with smuggling pooches
KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press

SYDNEY (AP) — Johnny Depp's wife, Amber Heard, has been charged with illegally bringing the couple's dogs to Australia — an incident that captured global attention after the nation's agriculture minister angrily ordered the pooches to get out of the country or face death.

Heard was charged this week with two counts of illegally importing Pistol and Boo into Australia and one count of producing a false document, the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions said on Thursday.

The importation charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of 102,000 Australian dollars ($75,000). The false document charge, which relates to information on an incoming passenger card, carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of AU$10,200.

The doggie debacle began in May, after Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce accused Depp, 52, of smuggling the couple's Yorkshire terriers aboard his private jet when he returned to Australia to resume filming of the fifth movie in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series.

Australia has strict quarantine regulations to prevent diseases such as rabies from spreading to its shores. Bringing pets into the country involves applying for a permit and quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days.

"If we start letting movie stars — even though they've been the sexiest man alive twice — to come into our nation (with pets), then why don't we just break the laws for everybody?" Joyce said at the time. "It's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States."

Officials gave Depp and Heard 72 hours to send Pistol and Boo back to the U.S., warning that if they weren't, the dogs would be euthanized. A Department of Agriculture officer later escorted the tiny terriers from the couple's mansion on Queensland's Gold Coast to the airport, where the dogs boarded a flight to the U.S. just hours before the deadline.

Joyce's comments were parodied worldwide, prompted a petition to save Pistol and Boo and sparked the social media hashtag #WarOnTerrier.

Asked about the charges during an interview with Sky News, Joyce suggested Heard would not be getting any special treatment.

"You, I, everybody — we're equal before the law," he said.

The prosecutor's office would not answer questions about why Depp wasn't charged, citing the ongoing nature of the case. The Department of Agriculture, which conducted the investigation, also declined to comment, saying the decision on charges was up to prosecutors.

Heard was issued a summons to appear in a Queensland court on Sept. 7.

In an interview last month, the 29-year-old actress said she and Depp planned to avoid Australia as much as possible in the future "thanks to certain politicians there."

"I don't know, I guess everyone tries to go for their 15 minutes, including some government officials," she told Australia's Channel 7.

A representative for Depp did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-16

[TVGerry]

While Depp and his wife are wrong and did break the law, the minister is an idiot.

"The dogs must get out of town or die!"

What does he think this is? A cowboy movie for animals?

Moron.

[Just1Voice]

And here I was thinking that only Thai officials made asinine public statements.

[bendejo]

Lock 'em up and throw away the key!

[halloween]

"I don't know, I guess everyone tries to go for their 15 minutes, not many try for 10 years."

[samuibeachcomber]

Egalitarianism is the central core of australian society,and tall poppies are cut down to size pretty quickly.Depp and his lady probably thought they could get away with it cos of their celebrity status.....well they've found out that it cuts no ice downunder.

The minister hails from the outback,and that's how they behave...no city slickers here!

[Chicog]

the 29-year-old actress said she and Depp planned to avoid Australia as much as possible in the future

Well that's a given.

[magnacarta]

Thailand take note,the law is the law no matter who you are,I expect the doggy lovers will be out in force.Just one question,would you like your child to be bitten on the face and left marked for life.I know I don't,my daughter has suffered this so there is no amount of justification to change my way of thinking.

[Cats4ever]

Strict regulations are there for a purpose viz. we don't want rabies or other diseases in Oz.

The Minister is a bit of a publicity seeking buffoon.

[harrry]

In 40 years she will slip and go on a plane through Australia.....no statute of limitations there.

[realenglish1]

I agree to a certain extent with a prosecution but threatening to euthanasia the dogs is a bit extreme.

Protect Australian from the ravages of rabies and at least fine her for breaking the law but prison is a bit much.

[BlackJack]

oxymoron

"You, I, everybody — we're equal before the law," he said.

Mr Joyce is a politician and is certainly not equal before the law in any way shape or form to everybody else.

[Manbing]

Barnaby Joyce proving that there is a flip side to the current drink driving story in Thailand, that status confers certain privilege.

In an effort to demonstrate his willingness to get tough on crime, he's going to hit the Hollywood players and bigwigs for unreasonable prison terms and exorbitant fines for flying pampered pooches into Australia.

The negative impact of this self-serving publicity seeking overzealous prosecution is yet to be seen. HIs common bloke, man of the people, Mr Smith goes to Canberra public persona is ridiculous.

.

Whats the bet that Johnny Depp has more clout in ensuring future movies, including enduring franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean don't get remade in Australia.

Here's the great man himself, mugging for the camera

Barnaby Joyce

Edited July 16, 2015 by Manbing

[Rooo]

Can I ask a simple question please ? What were customs doing? Australia has very heavy border controls, how can they smuggle the animals in?They gave them the movie star treatment & failed to do their job.

[newatthis]

"I don't know, I guess everyone tries to go for their 15 minutes, not many try for 10 years."

Well said. I had google her name to see if she had been in anything notable besides Johnny Depp's pants

[samuibeachcomber]

He's got no intention of doing what he was threatening....just mouthing off just like many of his national party colleagues have done before him..think katter jun.

As for depp...he's an oddball himself and will in no way bar "pirates of the carribean" from viewing down under,but am sure he too will avoid australia like the plaque.

I remember frank sinatra got in strife with the local media.....called them all hookers.Made me laugh!

[Rykbanlor]

Barnaby Joyce proving that there is a flip side to the current drink driving story in Thailand, that status confers certain privilege.

In an effort to demonstrate his willingness to get tough on crime, he's going to hit the Hollywood players and bigwigs for unreasonable prison terms and exorbitant fines for flying pampered pooches into Australia.

The negative impact of this self-serving publicity seeking overzealous prosecution is yet to be seen. HIs common bloke, man of the people, Mr Smith goes to Canberra public persona is ridiculous.

.

Whats the bet that Johnny Depp has more clout in ensuring future movies, including enduring franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean don't get remade in Australia.

Here's the great man himself, mugging for the camera

Barnaby Joyce

MY god, I'll have this disturbing rictus imprinted on my retinae for days to come.

[Prbkk]

Barnaby Joyce proving that there is a flip side to the current drink driving story in Thailand, that status confers certain privilege.

In an effort to demonstrate his willingness to get tough on crime, he's going to hit the Hollywood players and bigwigs for unreasonable prison terms and exorbitant fines for flying pampered pooches into Australia.

The negative impact of this self-serving publicity seeking overzealous prosecution is yet to be seen. HIs common bloke, man of the people, Mr Smith goes to Canberra public persona is ridiculous.

.

Whats the bet that Johnny Depp has more clout in ensuring future movies, including enduring franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean don't get remade in Australia.

Here's the great man himself, mugging for the camera

Barnaby Joyce

That's just his lunch.

[mikemac]

Egalitarianism is the central core of australian society,and tall poppies are cut down to size pretty quickly.Depp and his lady probably thought they could get away with it cos of their celebrity status.....well they've found out that it cuts no ice downunder.

The minister hails from the outback,and that's how they behave...no city slickers here!

Easy to see you know little about Australian geography, or you are just making it up as you go along.

This dimwit Minister is from Tamworth, NSW, which is hardly what you would call the outback. I spent years in the outback and it looks nothing like beautiful Tamworth.

I saw Amber Heard interviewed on tv, she said she was going to boycott Australia from now on. Well we don't want the dog smuggling bitch back there either. Captain Jack Sparrow is always welcome.

Don't think egalitarianism is the central core of our society either. More like riding roos up the main street pissed while eating prawns.

[mikemac]

Barnaby Joyce proving that there is a flip side to the current drink driving story in Thailand, that status confers certain privilege.

In an effort to demonstrate his willingness to get tough on crime, he's going to hit the Hollywood players and bigwigs for unreasonable prison terms and exorbitant fines for flying pampered pooches into Australia.

The negative impact of this self-serving publicity seeking overzealous prosecution is yet to be seen. HIs common bloke, man of the people, Mr Smith goes to Canberra public persona is ridiculous.

.

Whats the bet that Johnny Depp has more clout in ensuring future movies, including enduring franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean don't get remade in Australia.

Here's the great man himself, mugging for the camera

Barnaby Joyce

Was not aware there was a Raving Loony Party in Australia !

[samuibeachcomber]

Egalitarianism is the central core of australian society,and tall poppies are cut down to size pretty quickly.Depp and his lady probably thought they could get away with it cos of their celebrity status.....well they've found out that it cuts no ice downunder.

The minister hails from the outback,and that's how they behave...no city slickers here!

Easy to see you know little about Australian geography, or you are just making it up as you go along.

This dimwit Minister is from Tamworth, NSW, which is hardly what you would call the outback. I spent years in the outback and it looks nothing like beautiful Tamworth.

I saw Amber Heard interviewed on tv, she said she was going to boycott Australia from now on. Well we don't want the dog smuggling bitch back there either. Captain Jack Sparrow is always welcome.

Don't think egalitarianism is the central core of our society either. More like riding roos up the main street pissed while eating prawns.

I actually know a great deal having lived in australia for 30 plus years,but for me the outback begins as i exit hornsby

[Baerboxer]

Thailand take note,the law is the law no matter who you are,I expect the doggy lovers will be out in force.Just one question,would you like your child to be bitten on the face and left marked for life.I know I don't,my daughter has suffered this so there is no amount of justification to change my way of thinking.

Yes the law is the law. And those who break it should be treated fairly and the same. Not get off because they're celebs and not punished more severely because they are either.

This politician is milking it for all it's worth and making a right arse of himself in so doing. Law enforcement is a matter for the police, prosecutors and courts. Not mouthy politicians.

Nice to see he believes in the law though. Does he have a comment on the Abbot government paying people traffickers to traffic people away from Australia? Or is it ok for governments to break the law?

Sometimes I really think the current Aussie government are trying their hardest to become "the daftest" of all.

[Monkeyrobot]

Lucky they didn't smuggle them into Thailand , they would be served up for dinner here.

[HerbalEd]

Egalitarianism is the central core of australian society,and tall poppies are cut down to size pretty quickly.Depp and his lady probably thought they could get away with it cos of their celebrity status.....well they've found out that it cuts no ice downunder.

The minister hails from the outback,and that's how they behave...no city slickers here!

Cool.

[RickBradford]

Can I ask a simple question please ? What were customs doing? Australia has very heavy border controls, how can they smuggle the animals in?They gave them the movie star treatment & failed to do their job.

Arrival by private jet, falsified documentation, deliberate attempt to conceal said animals, and yes, perhaps some stardust in the eyes of one or two Customs officials.

Who will now be seeking alternative employment down at the Job Centre or at the very least, be on the severest of warnings.

[Oziex1]

If the beancounters calculate that making movies in Australia is a winner then Captain Jack, Pirates and all the Razz a Matazz will be back, sans the mutts I guess.

[scorecard]

Can I ask a simple question please ? What were customs doing? Australia has very heavy border controls, how can they smuggle the animals in?They gave them the movie star treatment & failed to do their job.

They arrived using their own transport, not on a commercial flight.

[halloween]

Yes the law is the law. And those who break it should be treated fairly and the same. Not get off because they're celebs and not punished more severely because they are either.

This politician is milking it for all it's worth and making a right arse of himself in so doing. Law enforcement is a matter for the police, prosecutors and courts. Not mouthy politicians.

Nice to see he believes in the law though. Does he have a comment on the Abbot government paying people traffickers to traffic people away from Australia? Or is it ok for governments to break the law?

Sometimes I really think the current Aussie government are trying their hardest to become "the daftest" of all.

Not sure they were being treated unfairly. Seems to me they were let off lightly, as it would be SOP to seize illegally imported animals and euthenise them.

Abbot government are economic rationalists. it would be at least 100 times cheaper to pay off smugglers than to allow undocumented illegal immigrants into the country to claim legal aid, social security and accommodation for years while their true identity and credibility of claims is ascertained. The "refugee industry" is costing western countries billions of dollars each year for very little benefit.

[metisdead]

Inflammatory posts have been removed.

[impulse]

.....perhaps some stardust in the eyes of one or two Customs officials.

Who will now be seeking alternative employment down at the Job Centre or at the very least, be on the severest of warnings.

Transferred to an inactive post.

No, wait. Never mind. Wrong country.