NationStates Jolt Archive

Prosecutors seek life sentence for Australian in Bali drug trial



DENPASAR, Indonesia (AFP) - Indonesian prosecutors sought a life sentence for an Australian woman on trial for allegedly smuggling a large quantity of marijuana onto the resort island of Bali.

They also demanded that Schapelle Corby, 27, who was arrested last October when customs officers at Bali's main airport found 4.1 kilograms (nine pounds) of the drug in her luggage, pay a fine of 100 million rupiah (10,460 dollars).

The former beauty student, who has denied the charge, shed tears as the prosecutor's request -- far short of the maximum permitted death penalty -- was translated in the court in the Balinese capital, Denpasar.

"The defendant has been proven, legally and convincingly of illegally and in contravention of the laws, importing class one narcotics," Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu said.

Corby's case has attracted unprecedented media interest in her homeland, prompting the Australian government to lobby Indonesian legal authorities on her behalf.

The trial is one of the few sticking points in improving ties between the neighbours, which frayed in 1999 when Canberra sent peacekeepers to East Timor during Indonesia's bloody withdrawal from its former territory.

Wiswantanu said that the sentence would reflect the fact that Corby's alleged crime had sullied Bali's holiday island image and caused mental anguish to its people. Her plea of not guilty would also weigh against her.

The court was adjourned for one week as Corby repeatedly said, "it's not fair," while hugging her lawyer and sobbing sister, Mercedes.

Corby's Australian lawyers have said that they had obtained new evidence that she was unwittingly used as a courier by organised criminals trying to smuggle the drugs on a connecting flight from Brisbane to Sydney.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Jakarta may agree to a request by Australia for Corby to serve time in her country if convicted, pending a legal agreement between the two nations.

Thursday's submission by prosecutors was only a recommendation, which judges can choose to ignore.

Indonesian courts have been handing out severe penalties in narcotics trials in the past few years as the country attempts to get tough on a growing drug abuse problem.

Thirty one death sentences for drug offences have been issued since 2000.

Two Thai nationals and an Indian convicted for drug trafficking in 1994 were executed, by firing squads, last year.

Nine more Australians are facing a possible death penalty in Bali for allegedly smuggling heroin after they were arrested earlier this week in a joint operation by Indonesian and Australian police.

This is an interesting issue. Should the Australian government be able to intervene, or is this in the hands of Bali? Basically, should she get the death penalty?

Personally, I'm split on the issue. Post your opinions here.

Bloody stupid of her to try smuggling drugs through a country where the death penalty can be applied...guess that's why they call it 'dope'.

This is an interesting issue. Post opinions here.
Life sucks outside the United States, doesn't it?

Couldn't you at least have come up with a question yourself, or some sort of opinion?

Really, "post opinion here". Post one yourself!

Bloody stupid of her to try smuggling drugs through a country where the death penalty can be applied...guess that's why they call it 'dope'.

She denies that she knew about the drug, she says she was set up...whether you believe her or not is a matter of opinion :p

Life sucks outside the United States, doesn't it?

Much less so than in them.

Couldn't you at least have come up with a question yourself, or some sort of opinion?

Really, "post opinion here". Post one yourself!

I'll get to it. I felt kinda stupid posting that.

Bloody stupid of her to try smuggling drugs through a country where the death penalty can be applied...guess that's why they call it 'dope'.
In a country where you can be involved in a bombing and not get much of a punishment.

Much less so than in them.
Drug laws that punish simple possession are stupid. Laws that prosecute smuggling aren't. Most sentient people realize that carting a suitcase full of drugs into a country is, or at least might be, illegal. We are talking "beauty student" which might be the same as "hairdresser", so sentience is arguable.

Drug laws that punish simple possession are stupid. Laws that prosecute smuggling aren't. Most sentient people realize that carting a suitcase full of drugs into a country is, or at least might be, illegal. We are talking "beauty student" which might be the same as "hairdresser", so sentience is arguable.

You guys need to read the whole article. She claims that she was unwittingly used as a courier by organized criminals.

Drug laws that punish simple possession are stupid. Laws that prosecute smuggling aren't. Most sentient people realize that carting a suitcase full of drugs into a country is, or at least might be, illegal. We are talking "beauty student" which might be the same as "hairdresser", so sentience is arguable.

This has what do with "life outside the US"?

Much less so than in them.
Really? Because I've been caught with pot about three times here in the US, and cocaine once. The pot charges never ammounted to more than a few stiff fines. I'd much rather be caught here in the USA than in Bali.

You guys need to read the whole article. She claims that she was unwittingly used as a courier by organized criminals.
Yeah, and I can claim I never saw that speed limit sign. Doesn't make either true. She was judged guilty, right?

Yeah, and I can claim I never saw that speed limit sign. Doesn't make either true. She was judged guilty, right?

Oh, I'm not saying she's telling the truth...

She denies that she knew about the drug, she says she was set up...whether you believe her or not is a matter of opinion :p

What she says is a moot point. She was found guilty, so apparently there wasn't much evidence in favor of her side of the story. She'd better hope her country can do some major diplomacy. I don't think life will be kind in a prison in that country...

Really? Because I've been caught with pot about three times here in the US, and cocaine once. The pot charges never ammounted to more than a few stiff fines. I'd much rather be caught here in the USA than in Bali.

I'd much rather be "caught" in the Netherlands. That's not in the US either, you know.

I'd much rather be "caught" in the Netherlands. That's not in the US either, you know.
Good point. But I'd rather be caught with a gun here. Every nation has it's good points and bad points.

Really? Because I've been caught with pot about three times here in the US, and cocaine once.

.... there's so much to wonder about this...

Blump.

Yes, it's the new bump, AND YOU SHALL LIKE IT!

Islamic countries do not have a sense of humor about drug crimes... getting caught can easily be fatal. With any luck though the Indonesians will ship her out eventually to Australia... not an uncommon occurance from what I understand.

Islamic countries do not have a sense of humor about drug crimes... getting caught can easily be fatal. With any luck though the Indonesians will ship her out eventually to Australia... not an uncommon occurance from what I understand.

Indonesia is a Muslim state?

Indonesia is a Muslim state?

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/id.html#People [Scroll down to "Religions".]

While I stated in the earlier Corby thread I think she could be innocent, I have no such reservations about the bali nine.

Indonesia is a Muslim state?
The world's biggest muslim state.

It's not just Muslim states that lack a sense of humour on drug offences. Singapore is absolutely draconian on their drug offences. Just like in their primarily Muslim neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia, being caught with any narcotic is a death penalty sentence, unless you're Australian apparently.

I personally have little sympathy for someone who deliberately smuggled narcotics into a country where such a thing is illegal. She ought to absolutely do time for it. This trial process alone, I'm sure, has terrified her. Still, I guess if they let her off, it would be a green light to other traffickers.

I personally have little sympathy for someone who deliberately smuggled narcotics into a country where such a thing is illegal. She ought to absolutely do time for it. This trial process alone, I'm sure, has terrified her. Still, I guess if they let her off, it would be a green light to other traffickers.
Assuming she is a trafficker. I somewhat doubt that since if she was she would be ratting out her accomplices for some sort of plea bargain. No fucking way is it all an act. As much as she was caught with there is no way she could have acted alone if she knew about it at all. Yet no attempt at a plea bargain has surfaced.

It does raise questions when they did not even finger print the bag of dope and the like.

Assuming she is a trafficker. I somewhat doubt that since if she was she would be ratting out her accomplices for some sort of plea bargain. No fucking way is it all an act. As much as she was caught with there is no way she could have acted alone if she knew about it at all. Yet no attempt at a plea bargain has surfaced.

Given the fact that she had a large quantity on her and that she was (if I recall) arrested with nine others, it's fairly safe to say that she was a part of a larger operation, knowingly or otherwise.

Given the fact that she had a large quantity on her and that she was (if I recall) arrested with nine others, it's fairly safe to say that she was a part of a larger operation, knowingly or otherwise.

She is not part of the Bali nine, she was arrested weeks before them for smuggling pot into indonesia, where as the Bali nine were arrested recently for smuggling heroin out of Indonesia. Two totally diffrent cases that involve Australians with drugs in Indonesia.

Bloody stupid of her to try smuggling drugs through a country where the death penalty can be applied...guess that's why they call it 'dope'.
Actually, the defendant's case has argued that there is reasonable doubt that she placed the cannabis in her bag. The recent case of a baggage handler unpacking a camel costume from a passenger's bag and wearing it on the tarmac has highlighted this possibility.

In response to the death penalty issue, I heard that Indonesia agreed to take execution off the table. Now Corby's possible sentence is one of life inprisonment, in Indonesia. Still, it's a pretty horrifying prospect.

I don't think she's guilty, and I think most of Australia agrees. The issue as to whether the Australian government should respect the decisions of Indonesia is weighed against the Australian government's responsibility to its citizens. I would hope that if someone I loved was in Corby's situation, my government would do everything possible to protect them. I agree that it may create tension between Australia and Indonesia, but Corby's a human being, not a trade agreement.

Australia has demonstrated that we are good neighbours to Indonesia, in response to the recent tsunami. While I'm not argung that our financial support after the tsunami should be conditional on Corby's release, I think that Indonesia declaring her guilty would do more damage to the Indonesia-Australia relationship than our requests for leniency ever would.

Bump, I see some interesting arguments.

The world's biggest muslim state.

It has the worlds biggest population of muslims, but it's not a "muslim state". The government is secular.

Anyhow. The guilty verdict I really dispute, here. The Indonesian police never tested the bag for fingerprints, which would have made certain that she wasn't guilty and never touched the marijuana. Secondly, an Australian prisoner testified in her defence that he overheard a conversation between two other prisoners, one claiming that the marijuana was actually his, planted temporarily in her baggage, and was meant to be picked up in Brisbane instead of going all the way to Bali in her bag. The prisoner that testified has since been repeatedly beaten, and is now in solitary confinement for his own protection.

The prisoner that testified has since been repeatedly beaten, and is now in solitary confinement for his own protection.
I hear he got stabbed, too. From what I've gleaned from episodes of OZ (series 2 on SBS Monday 10pm EST), if he had even some inkling of the potential beating he'd get for tattling, that's a pretty huge risk to take. Especially if Corby's guilty. Makes me suspect that she's not.

Australia has demonstrated that we are good neighbours to Indonesia, in response to the recent tsunami. While I'm not argung that our financial support after the tsunami should be conditional on Corby's release, I think that Indonesia declaring her guilty would do more damage to the Indonesia-Australia relationship than our requests for leniency ever would.

Australia has more to lose from poor relations with Indonesia than vice-versa. The Australian government is much more likely to sacrifice her in the name of diplomacy than not. Billions of export dollars vs. reducing the nation's population by one twenty-millionth: which is more important for the nation to thrive...?

The chance of the Australian government risking diplomatic damage during the post-East-Timor healing process is pretty slim. I can't see the SAS busting her out of jail anytime soon. Nor can I see Alexander Downer speaking out against whatever decision the court makes.

Also, there are NO grounds for the Australian government to appeal. Australian citizen or no, she has been suspected of a crime in Indonesia. Her fate rests in that nation's hands. The most the Australian government can do is ask them to play nice. Under international law, Indonesia is free to ignore that request if it doesn't serve their purposes.

I hear he got stabbed, too. From what I've gleaned from episodes of OZ (series 2 on SBS Monday 10pm EST), if he had even some inkling of the potential beating he'd get for tattling, that's a pretty huge risk to take. Especially if Corby's guilty. Makes me suspect that she's not.

OZ is fiction. It is also set in the US. It's a fairly crap way to learn about prison systems.

Also, there are NO grounds for the Australian government to appeal. Australian citizen or no, she has been suspected of a crime in Indonesia. Her fate rests in that nation's hands.

Technically, if she is indeed guilty, she also violated Australian law in possessing and exporting the marijuana, so our legal system should have some say there.

Technically, if she is indeed guilty, she also violated Australian law in possessing and exporting the marijuana, so our legal system should have some say there.

Decisions like that are usually based on where she committed the worst crimes.

In Australia, she allegedly only handled the drugs. It's more serious to smuggle them into another country. So Indonesia should be the ones to charge/convict/punish her.

Yeah, and I can claim I never saw that speed limit sign. Doesn't make either true. She was judged guilty, right?
was she judged correctly?

She is not part of the Bali nine, she was arrested weeks before them for smuggling pot into indonesia, where as the Bali nine were arrested recently for smuggling heroin out of Indonesia. Two totally diffrent cases that involve Australians with drugs in Indonesia.

Entirely my mistake.

was she judged correctly?

Judgement hasn't come through yet. Trial is concluded. Judgement around the end of the month, if memory serves.

It has the worlds biggest population of muslims, but it's not a "muslim state". The government is secular.

Excuse my poor wording! :)

Entirely my mistake.

S'OK dude! Chill! :cool:

No sentence as of yet. As for whether she is guilty or not, I feel we should not be judging. We hear a few minutes of TV coverage, compared to the hours of evidence heard by the judges.

I would like to know if Australia would have so quickly jumped to her defence if she was guy with a scar, instead of a nice looking young lady? I don't think so, rather hypocritical of really.

And if you go to another country, part of the game is you play by their rules, LIKE THEM OR NOT. I don't like such harsh penalties, but it is Indonesia's board.

Excuse my poor wording! :)

Alright, just this once :p

Couldn't you at least have come up with a question yourself, or some sort of opinion?

Really, "post opinion here". Post one yourself!
Fass, you continually amaze and amuse me! You're a trip, man! ROFL!

Fass, you continually amaze and amuse me! You're a trip, man! ROFL!

Well, I do aim to please, and I am pretty good at it, too.

Nota bene: There were no questions in the original post when I wrote that. Just the story and a "Post opinions here" blurb. Hence my little quip.

OZ is fiction. It is also set in the US. It's a fairly crap way to learn about prison systems.
*cue dopey look* "Yah don't say?"

I'm a bit disappointed that you think I believe OZ to be fact. I know it isn't, because Law&Order is real. OZ is just where the Law&Order people go for summer holidays. They can't both be real, because that would make no sense.

*cue dopey look* "Yah don't say?"

I'm a bit disappointed that you think I believe OZ to be fact. I know it isn't, because Law&Order is real. OZ is just where the Law&Order people go for summer holidays. They can't both be real, because that would make no sense.

Then what was with the reference? Seemed pretty out of place.