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HANDLERS OF CORRUPT BAGGAGE
Very interesting:
The day police allege a Sydney drug ring brought almost 10 kilograms of cocaine through Sydney Airport with the help of corrupt baggage handlers is the same day Schapelle Corby flew to Bali from the same airport.
I wonder what sort of odds would have been offered a few years ago on the phrase “corrupt baggage handlers” appearing in daily news.
Handlers of corrupt baggage… man, Huffington and the celebrities start blogging and Tim Blair starts giving relationship advice… what is this world coming to…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2005 05 11 at 09:42 PM • permalinkNot that many years ago a former Marrickville Council Alderman went into the heroin importing business in a big way.His modu operandi wasn’t too dissimilar to that alleged to have been used by the current crop of cocaine importers.He reportedly used a friendly Customs employee to ensure that his heroin shipments,forwarded as unaccompanied baggage, passed through unmolested.From all accounts he enjoyed considerable success but a good thing came to an end when a falling out with a business partner finished with the partner being kneecapped,the kneecapping went slightly wrong,his knees survived,but he took about 30 bullets in the rest of his body.Our hero went to jail.He escaped from Goulburn Jail,was recaptured about 2 years later and subsequently allegedly commited suicide in jail.Of course with unaccompanied baggage now being a no no it was probably necessary to modify this previously successful technique slightly so a courier travels with checked baggage and a friendly baggage handler at Sydney avoids the need to trouble Customs.It doesn’t seem like rocket science was involved in either case but it was still sufficient to fool the AFP for quite a while.
Did anyone notice the comments made by Dr Jason Sternberg, of Queensland University of Technology? I quote:
“The Australian public has almost taken what’s happened to Schapelle Corby as a personal affront. The perception is that she is going through a kangaroo court. What is happening to her speaks to a deeply deeply racist undercurrent that runs through Australian culture at the moment. ...”
Amazing how people like Sternberg use anything, no matter how tasteless, as an opportunity to slam Australians. So we are all ‘racists’ because we care that a young Australian is on trial in a legal system where judges give interviews to the media mid-trial and read books on sentencing while the defendent makes a plea for her life. But of course, its ‘racist’ to worry that she’s being railroaded by judges who hate Australia and want to make a name for themselves as being hard on westerners.
If ever Jason Sternberg gets into trouble in a foreign country, I hope that country is Indonesia. Then maybe he will get a taste of true racism and religious bigotry. Meanwhile, I hope he receives hundreds of letters and emails from Australians who are tired of being insulted by people like him - university/media Australia-hating know-alls - under the guise of ‘stating their opinion’.
I nominate him for Creep of the Week.
I think it’s gotten to the point where it’s impossible to find Corby guilty based on the facts.
Posted by Aging Gamer on 2005 05 11 at 11:16 PM • permalinkIt’s not a sign of ‘racism’ that Australians see the Indonesian court as a kangaroo court - more like we don’t understand the legal system there (Napoleon), and it is really hard to understand how someone could go through this hell when we see that, under our legal system, the case would not have got off the ground.
Hey, but everyone knows that Australians are rampant racists, we lock up ‘assylum seekers’, don’t rent our houses to people we think may be undesirable, and that, of course, makes us racist. Oh, hang on, ‘deeply, deeply racist’.I would have thought that the people jumping out of their skin with glee at the prospect of shooting a white woman were the racists.
but thats just me.
Posted by knuckleheadwatch on 2005 05 12 at 12:13 AM • permalinkdee,
You’ll notice that there wasn’t much airtime devoted to the Asian Australian who got sentenced to death in Singapore lately.
Ms Corby delivered her address to the judges in a language that was foreign to them and her lawyers didn’t even have the decency/competence to have a translation available for them.
My view is that Ms Corby’s lawyers are spending far too much time trying to drum up sympathy for her in the Aussie media and far too little time actually presenting a solid defence for someone with 4kg of marijuana in her baggage.
My question is would Keeltys comments be considered in contempt of court.
Seems pretty clear to me:
...Schapelle Corby’s legal defence “flimsy” and that “there is very little intelligence to suggest that baggage handlers are using innocent people to traffic heroin or other drugs between states.”
Either Australia’s top Cop believes in our system or he doesn’t
Posted by knuckleheadwatch on 2005 05 12 at 12:45 AM • permalinkA solid defence for Corby = the Dope was worth aprox $40,000 in Aust and would sell for aprox $5000 in Bali.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that it was a drug transport that stuffed up rather than an attempt to import.
Posted by Harry Buttle on 2005 05 12 at 01:12 AM • permalinkBattlestar said “Either Australia’s top Cop believes in our system or he doesn’t”.
Completely irrelevant. Kelty believes in our system all right. Corby, however, is being tried in Indonesian under a civil law system that is very foreign and nothing like our common law system. In any event, weak hearsay evidence is inadmissable in both jurisdictions. We have to face it. On the facts Corby is a guilty as hell.
Posted by walterplinge on 2005 05 12 at 01:18 AM • permalinkit just doesnt make sense to smuggle dope FROM OZ to Indo. I hope you doesnt get too fierce a sentance. Having said that why is she must be stupid for ignoring the travel advisory about bali in the first place.
Posted by Astonished on 2005 05 12 at 02:38 AM • permalinkThis current investigation re baggage handlers has no bearing on Corby. The new case deals with the importation of cocaine from overseas into Australia. This is an extremely high value trade with enormous profits to be made. The Corby argument seems to be that the drugs were put there by someone moving dope from Brisbane to Sydney. This would be highly unlikely, it would require having bribed baggage handlers at each end, organising rosters and avoiding internal security at the airports. While the dope is worth a considerable sum of money it would be a fraction of the profit in cocaine. For a dealer it would be far quicker, cheaper, easier and safer just to get someone to throw them in their car and drive to Sydney. Another point, where is Corby’s brother? He travelled with her and hasn’t appeared publicly to defend her when other members of her family have. Also if you had a relative in Bali who owned a surf shop, why would you take a cheap boogie board from Australia with you? Surely your relatives would be happy to lend you a board while you were there. As for the question as to why someone would take dope to Bali when it is so cheap there, well there is a good answer. Most dope in Bali is leaf and poor quality, it seems that she had high grade heads which are much sought after by dope smokers. As for selling it there, who said it was for sale? It may have been a gift for someone.
Posted by Bill Cooper on 2005 05 12 at 03:10 AM • permalinkJpaulG - I agree. I think the Corby defense team knows that she will be found guilty so they’re concentrating on publicising the case outside Indonesia and hoping to bring it to the attention of the world. They may have given up on this trial as a lost cause, and are concentrating on the appeal.
Bill Cooper - although the cocaine case has nothing to do with Corby, it provides a reasonable explanation of how the marijuana could have gotten into her bag. Indonesian law does not appear to accept the ‘reasonable doubt’ concept. I wondered about the brother also, maybe he’s bit disreputable and they believe that he wouldnt help their case, so they’re keeping him in the background (apologies to the brother if I’m wrong -).
The point that bothers me is that the judges seem to be using the Corby case as an opportunity to embarrass Australia. Their minds are made up already, they have shown hostility towards her from the beginning.
I completely agree with you re the judges making up their minds prematurely, however it is their country and it seems that is the way they do things there. If the Indonesians lectured us on how they think we should run our legal system the howls of foreign interference would screech from every media outlet and politician in the country. Another question - why is she always refrred to as ‘Beauty school student’? If she was not so young and attractive but was a pockmarked middle aged male or Vietnamese Australian or similiar would she get so much sympathy and attention? Here in Melbourne 3AW seems to be her local PR agency.
Posted by Bill Cooper on 2005 05 12 at 06:16 AM • permalinkI completely agree with you re the judges making up their minds prematurely, however it is their country and it seems that is the way they do things there. If the Indonesians lectured us on how they think we should run our legal system the howls of foreign interference would screech from every media outlet and politician in the country.
Really? It seems to me that Australians, like Americans, have to put up with quite a few people lecturing them on how to run their country, and the “screeching” in response is pretty muted.
And I love how you concede their system is corrupt, but “that’s just the way it is”. They’re just Indonesians, right? They’re not capable of doing any better—is that your position?
Posted by Rob Crawford on 2005 05 12 at 07:27 AM • permalinkIts not that they are incapable, it is the way their legal system is structured at this point in time. They have a democratically elected government and that is the way they do things. You may agree or disagree with their justice system, but it is up to the people of Indonesia to change it if they so choose. Or are you of the UN mindset, and want to impose your non elected views on the peoples of a democratic independant country?
Posted by Bill Cooper on 2005 05 12 at 07:41 AM • permalinkOr are you of the UN mindset, and want to impose your non elected views on the peoples of a democratic independant country?
No. I just think it’s a bit odd to complain that people are pointing out the flaws in an obviously flawed system.
And I think you’re entirely too willing to believe they want to live under a corrupt system.
Posted by Rob Crawford on 2005 05 12 at 09:43 AM • permalinkDee -you mention a Dr Sternberg a Qld academic and about unis hating Oz and everything we stand for.
I bought a book from the A.B.C. shop in my suburb.Titled “Mr Ruddock goes to Geneva.” and published by UNSW press. The cover has a photo of the former immigration minister (
at the time superimposed over a U.N. logo.Author is one Spencer Zifcak,associate prof of Law at La Trobe Uni and a vice president of the International Commission Eof Jurists- Australian section. Edited by Inst for Social Research, Swinburne Uni of
Technology.
In Geneva Ruddock “found himself under tough questioning about his govt’s policies on refugees,migration and indigenous affairs.For the past 5 yrs, Australia’s human rights record has been under critical scrutiny by all 6 U.N. human rights treaty committees.Their reports disclose a worrying retreat the Australian Govt from its obligations under international law. S.Z. traces the govt’s (AUST) efforts to change the U.N. Committee system and the impact of the controversy on Australia’s international reputation.”
John Howard DARED to say “we are not told what to do by anybody” and Downer told the A.B.C. (frequently invoked) “If a U.N. committee wants to play domestic politics in Australia then it will end up with a bloody nose”.
Downer had been fond of lashing the opposition in Parliament for purportedly siding with international institutions against Australia’s National interests. Australians have deep seated feelings of insecurity.
“We might have expected adverse ELECTORAL consequences” from (our govt’s sins) but troublesomely the REVERSE has been the case.
Other pearls of wisdom- “The U.S. has never been a good U.N. citizen”.” “Many Australians have been persuaded that we are at war with Terror.“‘Downer controversially announced multi lateralism is a synonym for ineffective and unfocussed policy, involving internationalism of the lowest common denominator.” Howard has “Anglo-Celtic cultural chauvinism.” We are “repudiating the competence and authority of U.N. bodies.” The U.N. observed that ‘the majority of Australians had a high standard of living”. His sources include Raimond Gaita,Chris Sidoti, Alice Tay,Sidney Jones,Amvesty International spokesman Zeggel,A.B.C.‘S a.m., P.M.,7.30 Report,Malcolm Fraser,Philip Alston,Mary Robinson.Paul Kelly, Robert Manne,Fred Argy,Sheil,Stiglitz,Stephen FitzGerald.Camilleri,John Carrol,Clive Hamilton,Barry Jones, Ramona KOVAL,Robert Manne. this research? commissioned by the Australia Institute.92 pages.Dear Rob at no point did I say that their system is corrupt it is the way they do this there. If you feel so strongly about their system I suggest you picket the Indonesian embassy. As for blogstrop it is not for me to explain anything about how their system of justice works. There are far worse legal systems all over the world why pick on this one. I notice none of you have commented on anything else in my posts. Perhaps it is righteous indignation that beats so strong in your breasts. After all she is an attractive anglo saxon woman. There are a number of Australians in dodgy legal situations all over the world - Look at the Victorian copper in Sierra Leone. He has not been treated fairly by any stretch of the imagination yey I do not hear calls regarding that legal system, But then he is not young and beautiful. I shall post no more on this topic as it seems that the main points I raised will be ignored in favor of beauty over reality.
Posted by Bill Cooper on 2005 05 12 at 03:41 PM • permalinkSuperior Tone? A Troll? I was discussing the Corby case, I have not abused anyone I merely stated the obvious. None of you has have tackled the main part of my comments. Now I am being called names for drawing attention to unpleasant reality. Try to address the point in question and not the man.
Posted by Bill Cooper on 2005 05 12 at 06:58 PM • permalinkPerhaps it is righteous indignation that beats so strong in your breasts. After all she is an attractive anglo saxon woman.
That looks a lot like indignant and personal comment to me, Bill.
Reflecting on us as pursuing a case just because the girl is attractive, rather than because of reasons you approve of, is a calculated insult.
Righteous indignation is more your line of work, based on your posts to date.Dear Blogspot who is us? Are you speaking for a group? You have a point re the “righteous indignation” it was not warranted. Still none of her supporters have responded to my concerns re thr baggage handler theory.
Posted by Bill Cooper on 2005 05 12 at 10:05 PM • permalinkMy special subject today is the bleeding obvious. You referred to members of this comment group in the plural, (I notice none of you have commented on anything else in my posts.)and I responded accordingly.
There was a post by Dee above which you seem to have forgotten when saying that none of your points were taken up.
Since you seem to have a negative opinion about the commenters here from the outset, I can see a pattern developing which we are all too familiar with.
As for your position on the Corby case:
Gee, Bill. I don’t know now whether to believe you, or Paul Wilson (Professor of Criminology, Bond University), who thinks the girl is innocent.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1334404.htm(Admin note: I’m dropping this in for kaeHome, who’s having some registration problems)
Bill
Shapelle’s sister, Mercedes, was interviewed (60 Minutes Australia, I think). They don’t own a surf shop in Indonesia, they are visiting for a while before their children have to commence school back in Australia. If you have a favourite surfboard you would tend to take it with you if you wanted to use it, ditto a boogie board.
The brother appeared to be a young teenager.
Another point about Aussies in Indonesia on drug-related charges, the others recently caught have been caught red-handed (with the drugs on their persons they can’t possibly say that they didn’t know that the drugs were there, and also another recent case of the unfortunate Aussie of Vietnamese ancestry who smuggled drugs and was caught and admitted to smugging to raise money for a family member). It’s not because Schapelle is of white anglo-saxon heritage, it’s because so many people believe that a terrible mistake has been made and Schapelle is the innocent victim of a larger drug smuggling operation within Australia.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2005 05 12 at 11:44 PM • permalink
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That’s one hell of a coincidence (I mean, I’m assuming they’re not making 10 kg busts every week down there). I have no clue whether cocaine traffickers would be interested in marijuana, but it sounds like good news for her all the same.