Monday, March 07, 2005

Corby vs. Bashir: What has happened to Justice?

Quick wrap-up of Schapelle-related news to date:

Melbourne's The Age has posted an editorial which compares the 30-month sentence given to Abu Bakar Bashir, suspected [read: known] Jemaah Islamiah leader, in Indonesia last week for his role in the Bali Bombings, to the death penalty that prosecutors are asking for should Schapelle be found guilty of smuggling marijuana into the country in her unlocked boogie bag.

I don't entirely agree with their hesitance to back the PM's recent carefully phrased announcement that he is following Schapelle's case, and Downer's intention to [finally] meet with her lawyers in Bali, however all press is good press, and The Age does agree that the leniency of Bashir's sentence highlights just how broken the Indonesian "justice system" is. Making an even greater mockery of the whole thing is the fact that Bashir has already served 10 months awaiting trial, and could walk free within 2 years -- even sooner if the judges agree to shorten his sentence after appeal.

The Australian newspaper has also hit out at Bashir's sentencing via their Editorials page, a more horrified and disgusted treatment, however, than from The Age. Good on you, The Australian.

Also last week, Ron Bakir hit out at the Australian government for their ignorance of Schapelle's case (hence, of course, the latest round of "we are watching" statements, as mentioned above), stating that without help it is likely Schapelle will die in jail.

Earlier last week, Schapelle's travel companions took the stand to agree with her statements that the marijuana is not hers, however the Indonesian judge seems deaf to valid requests by the defence for other witnesses, giving all sorts of reasons why they are "not relevant". Shocking in the extreme.

Lastly, an horrifically sad but true article detailing Schapelle's long, long days in Kerobokan prison was published by the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday. I also had some extremely insightful comments from Jacquelyne of NZ posted here the day after, pointing out various truths and delinquencies with the current charges against her. Thank you Jacquelyne.

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