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Australian Baggage Handler Arrested

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Wed Jun 08, 2005 at 08:27:25 PM EST
Tags: Schapelle Corby (all tags)
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An Australian baggage handler was arrested today as part of a drug smuggling endeavor, possibly bolstering the "innocent and framed" claim of Schapelle Corby:

NSW Police have arrested a baggage handler at Sydney Airport following an investigation into the transportation of illegal drugs between Sydney and Melbourne on a domestic flight. The man was taken to Mascot police station this morning where he is expected to be charged with hindering a police investigation.

It is understood that the arrest followed an operation at the domestic terminal in February when police intercepted a case allegedly containing cocaine with a street value of $60,000....The incident is not related to the investigation into baggage handlers at the international terminal.

However, it lends credence to claims made by Victorian prison informer John Patrick Ford, who gave evidence at Schapelle Corby's trial in Bali about drugs being transported on domestic flights.

Update: With five more suspicious but harmless powder packages having been received by the Australian parliament, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the British High Commission and the embassies of the US, Japan, Italy and South Korea, the speculation now is that they are being sent by those opposed to the War in Iraq, not Corby supporters. All of those countries have troops in Iraq.

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    Australian Baggage Handler Arrested | 8 comments (8 topical)
    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#1)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:52 PM EST
    Its a hope, but not a good one, the fact is that system will just keep her as it has to so many others. check out how many its happened to over the years of this drug war, but keep up hope. Free Corby.

    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#2)
    by TomK on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:52 PM EST
    A hypothetical question. How would you folks feel if the austrailian government traded the guilty baggage handler for Terry?

    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:52 PM EST
    I would despise any govt. that would send a marijuana dealer/smuggler/user to be executed or imprisoned.

    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#4)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:52 PM EST
    Even to secure the freedom of a person you believe was wrongfully incarcerated? Considering of course that there is no death sentence in this case.

    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:52 PM EST
    There needs to be some way to free her via diplomatic channels but there is no way those "judges" will free her. How is the boycott going I wonder?

    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#6)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:52 PM EST
    kdog, but don't you despise the snitch "Victorian prison informer John Patrick Ford" more?

    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:53 PM EST
    From what I've read, Ford didn't snitch for a reduced sentence or personal gain. He was trying to prevent the wrong person from going to jail for a crime they did not commit. It's unfortunate that he had to throw someone else under the bus to attempt at clearing Corby, but that's a far cry from ratting out a co-conspirator for personal gain. So I'd say the Austalian govt. trading the baggage handlers life for Corbys is no solution at all. Maybe if Australia had sensible drug policy, they would have the moral high ground to demand action from Indonesia, but they throw people in cages over plants too, just not to the extent of Indonesia.

    Re: Australian Baggage Handler Arrested (none / 0) (#8)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:53 PM EST
    Kdog, From what I've read, Ford didn't snitch for a reduced sentence or personal gain." Fair enough. I retract my question.

    Australian Baggage Handler Arrested | 8 comments (8 topical)