SA man gets life in Indonesia
25/04/2005 14:00 - (SA)

Jakarta - An Indonesian court sentenced a South African man to life imprisonment Monday for smuggling dagga into Indonesia's tourist island of Bali. The Denpasar District Court found Martin Christopher Akujobi from Johannesburg guilty of trafficking 4.1kg of dagga to Bali in 2004.

The sentence is the latest sign that Bali - known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife - has been cracking down on drug traffickers.

Last week, prosecutors in Bali asked a court to sentence Australian student beautician Schapelle Corby to life in prison for allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.1kg of dagga into the island.

Police also arrested nine Australians who were attempting to smuggle nearly 11kg of heroin out of Bali.

Akujobi, 40, was arrested in August at a hotel in Bali, where police found the drugs hidden in soap, perfume boxes and biscuit packages.

Prosecutors had demanded that Akujobi be sentenced to death but a judge reduced the sentence to life in prison.

Indonesia has some of the most draconian drug laws in Asia and its jails are filled with foreign nationals convicted of drug offenses.


25/04/2005 14:00 - (SA)

You know... When will people ever learn... South Africans know, the world knows, you get caught doing that in Indonesia, you gonna get either Death or life. Why do people think "they" wont get caught. If a person who willingly does that kind of thing in Indonesia gets caught, then I am sorry to say ... they are "really stupid". No amount of money would ever let me put my life at such risk. While I feel that perhaps life or even death for such an offense is rather high, they knew the risks involved and they knew there was a possibility of getting caught. The thing is South Africa will not step in and try and reduce that sentence or anything.

You know... When will people ever learn... South Africans know, the world knows, you get caught doing that in Indonesia, you gonna get either Death or life. Why do people think "they" wont get caught. If a person who willingly does that kind of thing in Indonesia gets caught, then I am sorry to say ... they are "really stupid". No amount of money would ever let me put my life at such risk. While I feel that perhaps life or even death for such an offense is rather high, they knew the risks involved and they knew there was a possibility of getting caught. The thing is South Africa will not step in and try and reduce that sentence or anything.
SA's non-intervention is markedly different to Australia's campaign for Corby, doncha think?

To be honest I dont even think most South Africans even knew this has happened, I never did, and i always watch the news. The only time They will step in is if they are going to be put to death and then it is a half-hearted attempt. Look at what happened in Zimbabwe, the South African Government agreed with what happened to those men. A sad but true fact. Yeah I see that the Australians have this whole thing going on, but to be honest I dont think it is going to work. The Indonesian Govt is not one that gives in to political pressure from anyone.