can someone please explain...

[MIKA27]

The Australian news this morning SUNRISE is already starting to play this like "The poor girl"...

They introduced the news to this this morning as "Hell in Colombia".

Why does our media protect these people?

I understand sometimes one can be innocent but that is only once proven. One would think the media should do the same. 

[gweilgi]

17 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

I woke this morning and hear this news, immediately rolled my eyes as I know this is all we will be hearing about for the next year each and every day.

How on earth can 18 headphones weigh 5 - 6 kilos!?

If they had been high-quality headphones, the weight might add up.  Good over-ear cans by Sennheiser or Beyerdynamic weigh 260-270 grams each, without cables and packaging.  And getting a good deal on such audiophile gear that might well run to $300-500 or more per set would have made her story at least vaguely believable ... but not with cheap-as-chips crap like $20 Daikon.

 

 

17 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

Agree with the whole, open parcel and check, I am afraid that's just a super stupid excuse that won't rub the right way...

Time and again, Aussies head overseas and get busted. schapelle Corby, Andrew Chan et al, and these young men and women still never learn. I don't feel sorry for these people because should they not have been busted, they'd be profiting from other peoples misery.

Agreed.  It's a good way to get yourself busted and ruin your life.  And peddling poison is only half a step away from messing with kids in my book...

[gweilgi]

8 minutes ago, MIKA27 said:

The Australian news this morning SUNRISE is already starting to play this like "The poor girl"...

They introduced the news to this this morning as "Hell in Colombia".

Why does our media protect these people?

I understand sometimes one can be innocent but that is only once proven. One would think the media should do the same. 

I reckon it has a lot to do with a widespread perception that the justice system in some of those countries is less than credible, even-handed or "civilised".  When the police and courts are seen as corrupt and capricious, inefficient and even prejudiced against Westerners, it is easy to cast our nationals in the role of victim.  And when called on it, there is always the fallback option of bleating on about "presumption of innocence".  

It also helps if the suspect/victim/criminal is white, young, and possibly blonde. 

Just my impression...

[MIKA27]

1 minute ago, gweilgi said:

I reckon it has a lot to do with a widespread perception that the justice system in some of those countries is less than credible, even-handed or "civilised".  When the police and courts are seen as corrupt and capricious, inefficient and even prejudiced against Westerners, it is easy to cast our nationals in the role of victim.  And when called on it, there is always the fallback option of bleating on about "presumption of innocence".  

It also helps if the suspect/victim/criminal is white, young, and possibly blonde. 

Just my impression...

I agree 100% mate.

I think our justice systems are far too lenient here, people assume the same applies abroad and as we all know, that's not the case.

[Smallclub]

On the "El Buen Pastor" prison:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4460478/Colombia-jail-El-Buen-Pastor-Australia-Cassandra-Sainsbury.html

[First Lady]

14 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Her story is crumbling faster by the minute. She is no longer a volunteer firefighter (hasn't been for 3 yrs) and she also quit fitness training. Just a dumb girl who thought she could make a quick buck carrying dope. Or perhaps the drugs were the bridal party gifts?

Damn that would be one wedding I would like to see the video of LOLOL

[Lotusguy]

Good looking?? If those are the Australian standards, I may have to reconsider my trip in December

[El Presidente]

3 minutes ago, Lotusguy said:

Good looking?? If those are the Australian standards, I may have to reconsider my trip in December

Harsh. 

Certainly in the upper echelon of drug mules. 

[Lotusguy]

Harsh. 

Certainly in the upper echelon of drug mules. 

That qualifier was missing - agreed in that case

[Jeremy Festa]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kuma]

Just make all drug use legal as Portugal and Spain have.  It has been found that it is a "win, win" situation for all

involved expect the drug dealers.  I think in Portugal it is legal to have up to 10 grams for personal use any more and

the authorties will ask you if you want help.  From what I have read in the news Portugal considers it a sickness / illness.

Would never work in the states.  The prison system is so ingrained in this culture that if they made it legal to use

small amounts for personel consumption the  (prison system / legal system) law inforcement / prison industry

would raise"holy hell" because they would be without a job.  The percent of young men in prison in the states

for casual drug use is astronomical.  Making it legal would most likely drop the crime / murder rate.

But it will never happen here (legal) to many people making legal careers: judges, lawyers, police,

prison officals, etc, etc.....  Shit even the phone company makes money when the imprisoned person

makes a tel. call from jail.  Not sure of course how ths girl got involved with that amount of stuff

but looks bad for her.

 

 

 

[MIKA27]

1 hour ago, Smallclub said:

On the "El Buen Pastor" prison:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4460478/Colombia-jail-El-Buen-Pastor-Australia-Cassandra-Sainsbury.html

Thanks for posting!

Now that I'm single, seeing those pictures, not bad at all! I might just slap a wig on, commit a crime and book myself in if I'm surrounded by beauties like that!

[Ken Gargett]

2 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

I understand sometimes one can be innocent but that is only once proven.

other way around. innocent until they prove you are not. but even then, technically, you are not 'innocent' but rather 'not guilty'.

and to our friend who has questioned rob's taste in women, a lay down misare for the gong for bravest post of the year!

[Lotusguy]

other way around. innocent until they prove you are not. but even then, technically, you are not 'innocent' but rather 'not guilty'.

and to our friend who has questioned rob's taste in women, a lay down misare for the gong for bravest post of the year!

I mean Di is >>>> hotter than that girl so we know he has taste

[Smallclub]

1 hour ago, kuma said:

Just make all drug use legal as Portugal and Spain have.  It has been found that it is a "win, win" situation for all

involved expect the drug dealers.  I think in Portugal it is legal to have up to 10 grams for personal use any more and

the authorties will ask you if you want help.  From what I have read in the news Portugal considers it a sickness / illness.

Would never work in the states.  The prison system is so ingrained in this culture that if they made it legal to use

small amounts for personel consumption the  (prison system / legal system) law inforcement / prison industry

would raise"holy hell" because they would be without a job.  The percent of young men in prison in the states

for casual drug use is astronomical.  Making it legal would most likely drop the crime / murder rate.

But it will never happen here (legal) to many people making legal careers: judges, lawyers, police,

prison officals, etc, etc.....  Shit even the phone company makes money when the imprisoned person

makes a tel. call from jail.  Not sure of course how ths girl got involved with that amount of stuff

but looks bad for her.

Well, for once, I agree with you. The war on drugs is lost since long. It's time to rethink the politic on this matter.

[MIKA27]

3 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

other way around. innocent until they prove you are not. but even then, technically, you are not 'innocent' but rather 'not guilty'.

 

Indeed this I know but who wrote that book as to which is the right way around?  Chicken or the egg kind of issue.

She's been busted, so guilty in the eyes of Colombia, now her lawyers need to prove she is innocent. Good luck with that one.

[Fuzz]

3 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

other way around. innocent until they prove you are not. but even then, technically, you are not 'innocent' but rather 'not guilty'.

and to our friend who has questioned rob's taste in women, a lay down misare for the gong for bravest post of the year!

 

21 minutes ago, MIKA27 said:

Indeed this I know but who wrote that book as to which is the right way around?  Chicken or the egg kind of issue.

She's been busted, so guilty in the eyes of Colombia, now her lawyers need to prove she is innocent. Good luck with that one.

Innocent until proven guilty - Before getting caught with drugs

Guilty until proven innocent - After getting caught with drugs

[Ken Gargett]

i am not at all familiar with the columbian legal system but most systems (not all) work on the basis of innocent until proven. understand that in the eyes of many she looks guilty (hell, if she is not 'guilty' i'll swim to columbia) but my point is that she still needs to be convicted. i'd be fairly certain she will be, unless something untowards happens, but it will likely be up to the prosecution to prove it. don't think it will be their toughest case. but until then, still "innocent".

[jimsta10]

Out of all the places in this world, who would have thought Columbia was the destination for specials on headphones. To be accurate, heads that were wrapped in black plastic.

[cigaraholic]

8 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

i did say american intelligence (you started it).

Something we're dearly lacking right now

[JohnS]

Colombian authorities ‘tipped-off’ over accused Australian drug trafficker

Published: 02 May 2017 Image credit: Colombia National Police

---

Colombian anti-narcotics police say they were informed Cassie Sainsbury may have been a “drug mule” before her arrest for allegedly trying to smuggle nearly six kilos of cocaine out of the country in her luggage.

Authorities released new photographs of the 22-year-old Adelaide woman, pictured in handcuffs, standing behind 18 black plastic packages filled with drugs, allegedly pulled out of her suitcase moments before she was due to board a flight home from Bogota on April 12.

“We received [information] about a citizen of this nationality [Australian], with an identification, could possibly be a drug mule,” anti-nacotics director Jorge Mendoza told the ABC.

Ms Sainsbury has since been refused bail and is being housed in Colombia’s largest women’s prison, El Buen Pastor, known for its overcrowded, filthy and dangerous conditions.

Ms Sainsbury’s family are adamant the young personal trainer was set up by a local man she’d only just met, who was showing her the sights and acting as a translator while she was in the country on a working holiday.

They say the man told her he could get her a deal on headphones, which she planned to give as gifts to her bridal party ahead of her upcoming wedding.

Trusting the man, she failed to inspect or open the packages, which were shown on airport X-rays to be filled with 5.8 kilos of cocaine – carrying a street value of up to $1.33 million.

But Columbian authorities aren’t buying her story, and say the Australian is likely a drug mule.

Head of Bogota airport antinarcotics police Lt Col. Jorge Triana told the AP, “Everyone who is caught says exactly the same thing. But they know what they are doing.”

Colonel Rodgrio Soler told The Australian Ms Sainsbury’s story is “no different” than any of the other drug traffickers they’ve arrested.

“Why are you interested in just one Australian?” he asked.

“We have people from Mexico, Spain, all different places, all ages using different methods.”

A fundraising page started by Ms Sainsbury’s family to help pay legal expenses has raised more than $4200.

“Cassie would never do anything like what she has been accused of,” her sister Khala wrote.

“Our hearts break, because we know she is innocent, but stands little chance of proving it in such a corrupt country.”

There are some concerns for the Ms Sainsbury’s safety, as comments from her mother and family may make her a target in prison by drug cartels, the Australian reported, citing lawyers familiar with the case. They have advised the family remove the fundraising page and stop speaking publicly.

If convicted, Ms Sainsbury faces 20-25 years in prison.  If she pleads guilty, the sentence will likely be reduced – the minimum term is six years, but she could get released in four years if she tells authorities more information about the man who supplied her the drugs. 

 

Please note Head of Bogota airport antinarcotics police Lt Col. Jorge Triana's sage statement on the matter, "Everyone who is caught says exactly the same thing. But they know what they are doing".

[oliverdst]

1 hour ago, JohnS said:

Colombian authorities ‘tipped-off’ over accused Australian drug trafficker

Published: 02 May 2017 Image credit: Colombia National Police

---

Colombian anti-narcotics police say they were informed Cassie Sainsbury may have been a “drug mule” before her arrest for allegedly trying to smuggle nearly six kilos of cocaine out of the country in her luggage.

Authorities released new photographs of the 22-year-old Adelaide woman, pictured in handcuffs, standing behind 18 black plastic packages filled with drugs, allegedly pulled out of her suitcase moments before she was due to board a flight home from Bogota on April 12.

“We received [information] about a citizen of this nationality [Australian], with an identification, could possibly be a drug mule,” anti-nacotics director Jorge Mendoza told the ABC.

Ms Sainsbury has since been refused bail and is being housed in Colombia’s largest women’s prison, El Buen Pastor, known for its overcrowded, filthy and dangerous conditions.

Ms Sainsbury’s family are adamant the young personal trainer was set up by a local man she’d only just met, who was showing her the sights and acting as a translator while she was in the country on a working holiday.

They say the man told her he could get her a deal on headphones, which she planned to give as gifts to her bridal party ahead of her upcoming wedding.

Trusting the man, she failed to inspect or open the packages, which were shown on airport X-rays to be filled with 5.8 kilos of cocaine – carrying a street value of up to $1.33 million.

But Columbian authorities aren’t buying her story, and say the Australian is likely a drug mule.

Head of Bogota airport antinarcotics police Lt Col. Jorge Triana told the AP, “Everyone who is caught says exactly the same thing. But they know what they are doing.”

Colonel Rodgrio Soler told The Australian Ms Sainsbury’s story is “no different” than any of the other drug traffickers they’ve arrested.

“Why are you interested in just one Australian?” he asked.

“We have people from Mexico, Spain, all different places, all ages using different methods.”

A fundraising page started by Ms Sainsbury’s family to help pay legal expenses has raised more than $4200.

“Cassie would never do anything like what she has been accused of,” her sister Khala wrote.

“Our hearts break, because we know she is innocent, but stands little chance of proving it in such a corrupt country.”

There are some concerns for the Ms Sainsbury’s safety, as comments from her mother and family may make her a target in prison by drug cartels, the Australian reported, citing lawyers familiar with the case. They have advised the family remove the fundraising page and stop speaking publicly.

If convicted, Ms Sainsbury faces 20-25 years in prison.  If she pleads guilty, the sentence will likely be reduced – the minimum term is six years, but she could get released in four years if she tells authorities more information about the man who supplied her the drugs. 

 

Please note Head of Bogota airport antinarcotics police Lt Col. Jorge Triana's sage statement on the matter, "Everyone who is caught says exactly the same thing. But they know what they are doing".

Good picture. Her Facebook will be a success.

[wabashcr]

7 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

Indeed this I know but who wrote that book as to which is the right way around?  Chicken or the egg kind of issue.

She's been busted, so guilty in the eyes of Colombia, now her lawyers need to prove she is innocent. Good luck with that one.

I agree with you.  She was caught with drugs in her possession trying to leave the country.  That's a crime.  The prosecution doesn't need to prove anything.  She's guilty.  If there are mitigating circumstances, like she didn't know she had the drugs, the burden of proof is on her (and her attorney) to convince the court.  The prosecutor doesn't need to prove she knew anything, unless they try to charge her with some conspiratorial crime in addition to possession and smuggling.  They have her trying to board a plane with drugs.  

Ok so obviously I don't know anything about the legal system in Colombia (other than that drug possession and smuggling laws can carry draconian penalties).  But my point is that even if she's presumed innocent until proven guilty, the facts of the case deem that the burden of proof has been shifted back onto her to prove why her case would qualify for any kind of exemption from the possession and smuggling charges.

On a personal note, while the courts may be required to consider her innocent until proven guilty, I'm under no such obligation to extend the same courtesy.  I don't see any way she's not guilty.  It would take a herculean effort on the part of her attorney to convince any reasonable thinking person otherwise, I'm afraid.

[dominattorney]

14 hours ago, kuma said:

Just make all drug use legal as Portugal and Spain have.  It has been found that it is a "win, win" situation for all

involved expect the drug dealers.  I think in Portugal it is legal to have up to 10 grams for personal use any more and

the authorties will ask you if you want help.  From what I have read in the news Portugal considers it a sickness / illness.

Would never work in the states.  The prison system is so ingrained in this culture that if they made it legal to use

small amounts for personel consumption the  (prison system / legal system) law inforcement / prison industry

would raise"holy hell" because they would be without a job.  The percent of young men in prison in the states

for casual drug use is astronomical.  Making it legal would most likely drop the crime / murder rate.

But it will never happen here (legal) to many people making legal careers: judges, lawyers, police,

prison officals, etc, etc.....  Shit even the phone company makes money when the imprisoned person

makes a tel. call from jail.  Not sure of course how ths girl got involved with that amount of stuff

but looks bad for her.

 

 

 

Don't forget the real criminals who make out like kings in this situation: bail bondsmen.  The whole thing is an utter disgrace. 

[luv2fly]

I am not a lawyer but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.  Damn, what are people thinking?  Make drugs legal and tax them.  One of the worst drugs that are legal is caffeine.  I am addicted to the stuff and would sell my mother first thing in the morning for a cup of joe.