May 28, 2005
FORGOT TO JUST SAY NO:
Shock as woman gets 20 years for smuggling (CHRIS BRUMMITT, 5/28/05, The Scotsman)
A YOUNG Australian woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison yesterday for smuggling marijuana on to Indonesia's Bali island, triggering angry scenes in court and an unusual public expression of sympathy for a convicted drug smuggler from her country's prime minister.The trial of Schapelle Corby, 27, has attracted massive media interest in Australia, where many people believe her claims that the drugs were planted in her luggage. Scores of family members and supporters - many of them Australian tourists holidaying on the resort island - attended court. [...]
"Guilty or innocent, I feel for this young woman," said the Australian prime minister, John Howard. "I ask that we all pause and understand the situation and recognise and respect that when we visit other countries we are subject to the laws and rules of those countries."
Indonesia, which, like other countries, including Australia, imprisons scores of foreigners for drug-smuggling each year, says it sees no need to grant Corby any special exemptions.
As The Wife said: Didn't she ever see Midnight Express? Posted by Orrin Judd at May 28, 2005 8:53 AM
If Ms. Corby weren't easy on the eyes, no one would care.
Posted by: b at May 28, 2005 12:24 PMI think Howard's comments were appropriate.
Given that, they could reduce her sentence to say, ten years, and give her a good caning upon release.
Posted by: Genecis at May 28, 2005 2:13 PMIndonesian justice - 2 years for slaughtering over 200 people in Bali - 20 for drug trafficking.
Posted by: obc at May 28, 2005 11:00 PM