Will this revive the Corby debate?

[SteveJohnson]

Sydney Airport drug mules: does this change your opinion on Schapelle Corby?

The latest in a series of ongoing investigations and arrests surrounding customs-complicit drugs trafficking at Sydney Airport.

AUTHORITIES have swooped on a courier accused of importing drugs with the alleged help of Sydney Airport customs officers. The move comes amid fresh revelations that some of the drug mules involved in the scandal risked the death penalty by moving drugs through Singapore.

Among other developments in the growing customs corruption scandal, a Fairfax investigation can also reveal that up to four customs officers suspected of involvement in serious corruption remain working at Sydney Airport.

Drug mule accused of working with customs

I'm really curious about how this may change the way people feel about the Schapelle Corby case, where she claimed to have no knowledge of how drugs found their way into her 'boogie board' bag after a flight from Sydney to Bali.

At first I didn't know what to make of this, and as more of the story came out about her family's background I thought she may be guilty, but after all these reports I really start to wonder if she was telling the truth. So I am wondering how others feel about this in light of this ongoing investigation and these arrests, as this seems to have been a job going on long and deep inside Sydney Airport!

* Mods, apologies if you think this is 'off-topic' for AFF, but I think the drugs & customs issue really has broad ramifications *

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: Sydney Airport drug mules: does this change your opinion on Schapelle Corby?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....sion/will-this-revive-corby-debate-45907.html

I think you'll get some answers from the thread above.

 

[anat0l]

Re: Sydney Airport drug mules: does this change your opinion on Schapelle Corby?

I have no opinion or Corby, and even if I had one I don't believe my opinion would change.

The thing that concerns me first and foremost is the corruption within Australian Customs. That breeds within me a very deep sickness, distaste and contempt towards those involved.

Certainly, it is embarrassing for Australia in general as it makes a large mockery of our border control systems, especially when we are known to be notoriously strict and yet now this is severely undermined by corruption.

 

[samh004]

Unless someone admits that they planted the drugs, or knew about it with enough proof to say for sure that customs were in on it, there's nothing to talk about.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Unless someone admits that they planted the drugs, or knew about it with enough proof to say for sure that customs were in on it, there's nothing to talk about.

Why? Her boogie bag was full of dope, is this yours? Yes!

Incontrovertible evidence.

 

[medhead]

The latest in a series of ongoing investigations and arrests surrounding customs-complicit drugs trafficking at Sydney Airport.



Drug mule accused of working with customs

I'm really curious about how this may change the way people feel about the Schapelle Corby case, where she claimed to have no knowledge of how drugs found their way into her 'boogie board' bag after a flight from Sydney to Bali.

This does absolutely nothing for her case. There is a massive difference. This arrests involve people who are allegedly working with customs in Australia. The mule is known to customs officers and vice versa. The mule also knows they are carrying drugs.

Corby's defence was she didn't know how the drugs got into her bag. Therefore, she wasn't working with customs therefore this case has no bearing on her case. In fact, to use this case she would then have to say she was a drug mule working with customs.

 

[frypan]

Hi, signed up to say something a little against the grain.

Even if Corby was guilty, the punishment doesn't fit the crime. We wouldn't accept the law if the punishment was 30 minutes of torture, but for some reason we're ok with 20 years of imprisonment in a "notorious by our standards" prison? What a bad attitude to look down one's nose at this poor girl in her 20 year sentence for... weed. Not ice. Not heroi_. Nothing processed. We're talking God's plant. It comes out of the Earth whether we like it or not.

We can't give mother nature any prison time, the original intelligent designer that made such a strong weed - resilient. And for humans, in moderation for some responsible citizens, some of the time. Australian standards in the community are quite relaxed with weed, and have been for years. Do people not notice? Elephant in the room isn't it. We're having a puff now and then, yes it's a bit naughty. It's fair enough to punish those who break laws in other countries, but we ought to condemn law-makers anywhere in the civilized world for over-cooked, extreme, unbalanced incarceration terms. If the punishment was even 20 months in prison, that is still enough to scare most people.

I've never liked this whole case, and lean towards her being innocent. Pot stinks, it has a strong odor, and there's not much money to be made selling it where it thrives naturally. Plenty of suspect details about the case are documented. The case stinks more than the weed ever did.

And now this news that "supervisors" in customs are being arrested. Supervisors usually have greater access and power in organizations. This is a big deal. What kind of circus are they running at Australian airports? If it's not someone getting their skull bashed in out the front, it's dodgy teams of corrupt staff dealing drugs out the back. I can see the Underbelly episode already. The point being... Absolutely this will revive the Corby debate.

 

[Mal]

Welcome but I disagree. Regardless of what you think is an appropriate punishment doesn't mean that the rest of the world agrees.

When I come into your house, I follow your rules. If you request I take off my shoes I will agree and do it. I wont whine and complain that I dont do that at home and how it isnt fair.

Taking drugs into certain countries means death. She got a lenient sentance... she could have been executed.

 

[Deleted member]

Unless someone admits that they planted the drugs, or knew about it with enough proof to say for sure that customs were in on it, there's nothing to talk about.

Was there not some suggestion that Bali customs were paid off and it went pear shape?

 

[HarryB]

Indonesia's high level of corruption + dodgy history of some of the Corby family = not surprised no matter what the actual truth is.

I also agree that despite what any of us think, you enter any foreign country and are bound by their laws whether they seem sensible or not.

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

I also agree that despite what any of us think, you enter any foreign country and are bound by their laws whether they seem sensible or not.

And this is the key to travelling in any country.

As someone who has been to Thailand a few times I was amazed on my first trip just how many times I have was offered suspicious substances. A simple and firm no thank you repeated often and politely whilst walking away has always served me well.


They soon get the message and go elsewhere.