Schapelle Corby - Guilty?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

There's an editorial piece in today's Herald from Kris Kotarski about the case of Schapelle Corby which caught my eye. For those not familar with the case here's a clip from the wiki:

Schapelle Leigh Corby (born July 10, 1977) is a former beauty student from Australia convicted by an Indonesian court of attempting to smuggle 4.1 kg of cannabis into Indonesia. In October 2004 she was stopped by customs agents at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, and found to have a large package of drugs in her boogie board bag. On May 27, 2005, she was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years jail. She was also fined IDR100,000,000 (AUD13,875), with an additional six months if unpaid.

Full recap of Schapelle's story can be found here: Link

The editorial in today's paper implies that because she is young, white, and pretty, and it's a whole lot more difficult for Australians to believe that this former beautician could have perpetrated the crime.

It's an interesting story. Reminds me of that crappy movie with Claire Danes...Brokedown Palace... Who to believe, that is the question... Is she getting special treatment because she's pretty?

Whatever the case, I don't relish the thought of 20 yrs in an Indonesian Prison.

[SoulOfTheFlame]

I was in Australia at the time, and everyone I talked to believes she's innocent. So do I, to be honest... It's a real shame.

[Resolute 14]

I believe both the prosecution and the defense are appealing the court's decision. Her lawyers are trying to get the conviction overturned, but the state is appealing stating the sentence is too light. The ususal punishment for this is life imprisonment.

However, I would suggest that doubts about the legitimacy of such trials in Indonesia, and the harsh nature of the sentence - by our standards - are greater reasons to believe she was set up than the fact that she is an attractive white woman.

[Prototype]

I could be wrong, but isn't this the same girl who was up for the death penality at first. If I remember correctly, she could have faced a firing squad in Indonesia for such a crime.

Reminds me of reading about Singapore rules, where you can't chew gum in some places, or you can't spit on a sidewalk.

Harsh rules either way. I guess she should have done some research into the laws of the land before she booked her flight. Not smart trying to transport drugs from country to country.

Although I think 20 years it steep, she's getting what she deserves for trying to smuggle drugs.

[Eagle Eye]

Originally posted by Prottotype@Jun 14 2005, 09:45 AM


Although I think 20 years it steep, she's getting what she deserves for trying to smuggle drugs.

Isn't that the point. She may infact be innocent, there is no proof that she was/wasn't trying to smuggle in drugs. The only thing they are holding her on is the fact that it was in her bag (someone could have very easily put it in there).

I have no idea if she is guilty or not, but shouldn't you have to be proved guilty in order for punishment like this?

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally posted by Prottotype@Jun 14 2005, 05:45 PM
Although I think 20 years it steep, she's getting what she deserves for trying to smuggle drugs.

People deserve to have their lives destroyed because of bloody plants in their baggage? Good lord.

I have no idea why people travel to countries stuck in dark ages. I have enough when I am sitting at Kuala Lumpur airport. I wouldnt go outside if someone paid me. Keep a close eye on your bag and hurry back on board. I will stick to civilization thank you.

[Eagle Eye]

Originally posted by Flame Of Liberty+Jun 14 2005, 10:31 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Flame Of Liberty @ Jun 14 2005, 10:31 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Prottotype@Jun 14 2005, 05:45 PM
Although I think 20 years it steep, she's getting what she deserves for trying to smuggle drugs.

People deserve to have their lives destroyed because of bloody plants in their baggage? Good lord.

I have no idea why people travel to countries stuck in dark ages. I have enough when I am sitting at Kuala Lumpur airport. I wouldnt go outside if someone paid me. Keep a close eye on your bag and hurry back on board. I will stick to civilization thank you. [/b][/quote]
I agree, I wonder if places like this will start worrying about tourism when people are scared to fly to thier country?

[Flames89]

Originally posted by Eagle Eye+Jun 14 2005, 01:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Eagle Eye @ Jun 14 2005, 01:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

People deserve to have their lives destroyed because of bloody plants in their baggage? Good lord.

I have no idea why people travel to countries stuck in dark ages. I have enough when I am sitting at Kuala Lumpur airport. I wouldnt go outside if someone paid me. Keep a close eye on your bag and hurry back on board. I will stick to civilization thank you.

I agree, I wonder if places like this will start worrying about tourism when people are scared to fly to thier country? [/b][/quote]
Funny though, one of the articles I read after reading this stated that Indonesia is strict on drug policies partly because they want to be a Tourist Destination.

a) She is hot
b) It is all sad - just for a natural plant - if it was heroin, then maybe 20 years is appropriate.

[Indi]

lets not forget the fact that at the same time, baggage personell for Quantas (airline she used), were getting busted for planting dope in unlocked luggage, with their counterparts taking the 'ggodies' out before the flight went international. This bag was missed, went international, and Schappelle pays the price.......It is bullshinguard that she was convicted, even though the prosecution knew about the baggage handlers......what a way to increase tourism travel to your country. I hope the freakin tourism industry goes broke in Indonesia because of this kinda crap!!

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I thought this article went into the details of the case much better than the rest. There have been some murmurings about her family's less than law abiding past and this article does touch upon that.

http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/si...A257009007873E1

I think much of the sentiment around this story is being driven by the fact that she is young, pretty and helpless in hostile surroundings, and we have an instinctive protection mode around such things - a la Jessica Lynch. If Schapelle was goth, tatooed and homely I doubt we would have seen a similar reaction. There are many Australians up on drug charges in various parts of Asia and no one else has received this much attention.

That said, I don't know if she's guilty or not. I agree there are many circumstantial bits that would seem to suggest she's innocent, but at the end of the day she was caught redhanded with, 4 kilos (a freaking lot) in her bag.

Australian law professors point to Indonesian legislation, which states the accused must be presumed innocent. But chief judge Linton Sirait has explained the ruthless reality: it is up to the defendant to prove his or her innocence. And Sirait has said Schapelle’s lawyers have failed to do that.

I'd like to see her sentence carried out in an Australian jail at least. Australians are free to vote with their feet and boycott Bali - I just hope some of the redneck rhetoric (calling the judges 'monkeys' and savages) dies down.

Flame of Liberty - you though KL was in the dark ages? You ain't seen nothing yet. There are a number of CPers here who have travelled extensively - why don't you ask them why travelling opens their eyes to the world beyond the narrow North American view of things?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I don't really lean either way, because I don't know the facts.
a) if she was indeed smuggling the drugs then she got what she deserved
b) if she was the unlucky person who had her bag stuffed with drugs by the baggage handlers than it truly is sad.

But what is also very sad is the fact that it is pretty clear that this girl is getting this much support becasue she is a pretty white girl. I'd be willing to bet that there have been a few cases just like this one that none of us have heard about.

I do find it very ironic that this thread is pretty much doing exactly what the original post was saying. What if this had been a big bury black guy, would people be so adamant that it probably wasn't his drugs? I doubt it.

[Tron_fdc]

There was another case going on a few weeks ago when I was over there involving the "Bali 9" where a bunch of Aussies were going back and forth on fake passports smuggling drugs out of Bali into Oz. They ended up getting caught, and are now squirming around using every trick in the book trying to get out of their life sentences.

I for one have no sympathy for them. They knew the risk, and when they got caught no amount of whining will help you out. I also got the impression they were making an example of foreigners smuggling drugs in and out of the country, which is probably what they are doing with this girl.

Visiting foreign countries is always a risk, but then again so is driving, biking or even getting out of bed for that matter. If people want to live in a bomb shelter and go outside covered in football equipment that's fine, but what kind of life is that? If you know the risks and act on them accordingly, the chances of something like tis happening are almost none. Hell, I have a better chance of getting hit by a car on Glenmore than getting tossed in an Indonesian prison if I'm smart about it.

[Neeper]

Lock your friggin suit case/bag!! 4.1kg is a lot. I would sure notice it if I was carrying a boogie board and there's was an extra 10lbs in my bag. This is a case where I do think there's a possibility she is innocent. As for the bali 9, they are 100% guilty. They had heroin strapped to their bodies.

All I have to say is I am glad I went to Amsterdam.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Even if she is guilty, 20 years is way to long, especially when you consider the punishments that were given to the individuals who were found to be responsible for the Bali bombings, something like 3 years. You tell me what is worse, killing hundreds of people, or bringing some dope into a country allready filled with dope.

I don't support marijuana, but at the same time 20 years in a hole in the ground is way to much.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally posted by Mean Mr. Mustard@Jun 15 2005, 02:45 AM
Even if she is guilty, 20 years is way to long, especially when you consider the punishments that were given to the individuals who were found to be responsible for the Bali bombings, something like 3 years. You tell me what is worse, killing hundreds of people, or bringing some dope into a country allready filled with dope.

I don't support marijuana, but at the same time 20 years in a hole in the ground is way to much.

The Indonesian justice system is pretty racist from what I've heard. It treats westerners a lot worse than native Indonesians. I find it hard to believe that she got a fair trial in a country with the reputation of Indonesia.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally posted by fotze@Jun 14 2005, 08:52 PM
The name Schapelle Corby absolutely drives shivers up my spine. I don't know why but I absolutely hate that name. with all my heart.

Imagine if she married Dave Chapelle and hyphenated. She'd be Schapelle Corby-Chapelle. :-)

[Cube Inmate]

Originally posted by Tron_fdc@Jun 14 2005, 12:48 PM
Visiting foreign countries is always a risk, but then again so is driving, biking or even getting out of bed for that matter. If people want to live in a bomb shelter and go outside covered in football equipment that's fine, but what kind of life is that? If you know the risks and act on them accordingly, the chances of something like tis happening are almost none. Hell, I have a better chance of getting hit by a car on Glenmore than getting tossed in an Indonesian prison if I'm smart about it.

Personally, I'd rather get killed on Glenmore Tr. than end up in a foreign prison -- in a country where the laws are, in my estimation, less than fair. Hell, I believe that the laws in this country are BS half the time, but at least I still have some faith in the system.

There are a lot of places I'd like to travel, but wouldn't because of the governments. It's unfortunate, but I don't think it's equivalent to wearing a football helmet in the streets. There will always be plenty of places to travel. When the day comes that I've run out of places to go, we'll revisit this.

NOTE to all:

Geez people...she's not even that good-looking. I think people are being misled by her strange name and the "beauty student" references.