For those who don't know this is a really big case in Australia right now. The girl in question went to Bali, drugs where discovered in her bags, about 4kg of cannabis, and she was arrested and for a time was facing the death penalty before the Bali legal system, in agreement with our government made it so she would only be facing a life sentence (20 years or more).
However she claims she didn't do it, and there is a fare bit of evidence it could have be placed in her bag as part of a bigger drug smuggling ring that has recently come to light (popular strategy for the drug lords not to risk their own lives smuggling them, just plant them on some ignorant traveller). The problem a lot of people have is that despite reasonable doubt from the beginning the Balinese courts showed little interest in this and a lot of people claim just wanted a conviction, and ignored this other evidence.
As it is she has been found guilty today, and is going to serve 20 years in an Indonesian jail. Personally I don't know whether she is guilty or innocent, but I do think death, or 20 years is somewhat harsh for a first time offender, with a small amount of a non "hard" drug. A lot of people have also drawn parallels with the Bali bombings pointing out how the ring leader and a know terrorist is looking at 3 years (less now) while a drug conviction carries such a harsh penalty.
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From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent.
True, far to harsh, especially if she is innocent. In their reasoning the judges said the defence hadn't presented a good enough case, remarkable to think then that the whole thing is "guilty till proven innocent", which just seems wrong.
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From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent.
i see this as another case of the australian government doing nothing so as not to ruin their chances of drilling for oil in the Timore sea. i think she was innocent but she had to know she wasn't leaving the court free, the judge who tried her case has NEVER found ANYONE innocent in over 20 years of being a judge. she should be stoaked getting 20 years, better than a cigrette and a bullet.
__________________ If you dont like Frenzal Rhomb, your a whore!
I am aware that "your" should be "you're," and while I know I should change it as not to offend the grammar fans around the boards, school always said not to bow to peer pressure so it stays as it is
you miss-understood me. I believe on everything that she's innocent.
Im saying, thats how their courts work. they find someone breaking the law then they're guilty, end of story. They don't care about evidence or jack all!
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May 27th, 2005 09:55 AM
