Monday, November 28, 2005

Parents mortgaged home for Indonesian injustice

It was reported that more than $100,000 was paid out of at least $600,000 used to free Michelle Leslie.

Her Sydney Lawyer Ross Hill confirmed $275,000 was contributed by Leslie's parents after they mortgaged their home.

The $130,000 sent to Jakarta and several other payments were contributed by Leslie's boyfriend, Scott Sutton, and his family, which has a $220 million Sydney car dealership.

Mr Hill said it was possible that bribes were paid to secure Leslie's release but he had not witnessed any.

More than $130,000 sent by wealthy friends to figures in Jakarta to help free Michelle Leslie had disappeared and was rumoured to have been used for bribes, her Sydney lawyer, Ross Hill, has conceded.

He said he had sacked two men from Jakarta, and several associated lawyers, after he took control of the case about three weeks after Leslie was arrested with two ecstasy tablets in Bali.

After that, Mr Hill said, he was not personally aware of any bribes paid to secure her release.

Two Jakarta men were hired by a manager from Neil Sutton's car dealership after they guaranteed they could get Leslie freed immediately. One man is believed have been a bodyguard of the former president Soeharto.

When they flew to Bali, threats were made to force Leslie's local lawyers to resign. The men were given $US100,000 ($135,730) by the Suttons, Mr Hill said.

It was unclear what had happened to the money and it might have been pocketed, he said. "I can't say what they did with it; all I know is that amount of money was taken by them."

Mr Hill said he had heard rumours of a senior Indonesian policeman who requested $US400,000 to reduce the charges Leslie was facing. Her initial drug possession charge carried a potential 15-year sentence but was later dropped to one with only a three-month term, enabling her release eight days ago.

Leslie's spokesman, Sean Mulcahy, said she would not be revealing her story, at least for some time.

Asked about allegations that bribes were paid to reduce her sentence, he said yesterday: "They are issues that go to the heart of this problem and we are not prepared to talk about them at this point. It's something for Michelle to talk about when she is ready."

Bambang Sugiarto, the head of Bali's drug squad at the time of Leslie's arrest, said Leslie might have paid "other institutions".

"Maybe she gave the money to other party, I mean, other institutions."

By Sue Trusty 28 November 05

Related:


Why is the prime minister so angry: Leslie
John Howard 'angry'. Not a good role model for a Prime Minister! IF you were looking at 15 years in a filthy Bali prison what would you do to get out?

Indonesian Police Set Free After Torturing West Papuan Students to Death If you thought Schapelle Corby got a raw deal from the Indonesian justice system, spare a thought for the West Papuan students who survived a vicious attack by police as they slept in their dormitories in Abepura, West Papua, in the early hours of 7 December 2000.

Say no to Indonesia as a tourist destination
Australian tourists visiting Bali's nightspots will face random urine tests under an escalating anti-drugs crackdown on the Indonesian holiday island.

WHY IS THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT PLAYING 'DEATH' WITH AUSTRALIANS: There has been much controversy recently on whether the Australian Federal Police should have tipped-off the Indonesians over the arrest of the Bali Nine. Due to the fact that Indonesia executes convicted drug-traffickers, ACADP believes that any evidence collected by AFP should have been withheld from Indonesian authorities until they have a written guarantee not to pursue the death penalty for the Bali Nine.

'CORBY VIDEO HELP REBUFFED'?
On page19 of the BRISBANE "SUNDAY MAIL" there was an article entitled "CORBY VIDEO HELP REBUFFED". IF it is true, (the article which follows) it PROVES (IN LAW) the claim that OUR GOVERNMENT HAVE WITH-HELD EVIDENCE FROM THE LEGAL DEFENCE OF A CITIZEN.

It was me! 'New Corby trial'
SCHAPELLE Corby has been handed a second chance to fight for her freedom. But she got no second chances with the Daily Telegraph.

Australian man denies owning drug stash
AN Adelaide man facing up to 10 years in a Bali prison for drug possession has denied owning a stash of hashish allegedly found at his rented bungalow.

AUSTRALIANS PAY BRIBE TO VISIT CORBY IN BALI PRISON:
The Corby drug trial has become Bali's latest tourist attraction. Australians are taking time off to lend moral support to Schapelle Corby.

Corby lawyer pleads for Australian help
The lawyer for a Queensland woman facing drugs charges in Indonesia says it is not too late for Australian authorities to assist her defence.

THE DRUG-RIDDEN STREETS OF BALI:
Chris Allen, took to the streets of Bali and found it possible to buy a smorgasbord of illegal narcotics from dealers.

People: 'Prisoners' of Drugs'
People who are addicted to heroin usually take the drug because it relieves them of problems such as low self-esteem, distrust and fear of abandonment. They may have poor communication skills & poor relationship skills.

POSSESSION? OR INVASION?
UK: This absolutely preposterous idea/theory of allowing a person/s to be possibly charged with 'possession', if found to have a drug substance within their bloodstream, just goes to prove such hypocrisies which certain hierarchies feel justifies passing legislation, is another blow for democracy!

PLANNING TO TRAVEL OVERSEAS? BEFORE YOU GO, READ THIS!
Currently, 214 Australian citizens are languishing in prisons around the world. The majority of these having been convicted of drug-related crimes.