Thread: What has happened to Bali?

Anyone proven guilty of growing, cultivating, having in stock, possessing, keeping or controlling narcotics belonging to category 1 (Golongan 1) is liable to a penal sanction up to IDR 500 millions and/or up to ten years in jail, as per the article 78 of the law 22/1997 on Narcotics. This law has replaced the one of 1976, which was indeed very similar. The main difference was that it was poorly implemented toward foreigners. It is what gave the impression that things were "cool" in Bali. Things started to change in the late 90', early 2000, with a first well publicised case involving a foreigner. It was Mickael Blanc, french citizen, caught at Ngurah Rai airport in December 1999 with a bit less than 4kg of haschisch. He was later sentenced to a life term in jail in November 2000. the sentence has been confirmed both in appeal and cassation. Mickael Blanc is still in jail as per today.
Since this case, quite a few foreigners got lengthy jail term and these cases are usually well publicised overseas. Recently 2 austalians, part of the so called "Bali 9", were sentenced to death in an heroin smuggling case, while 6 of their feelows where sentenced to a life term and another one for 20 years. They were all in their 20's. Just before it, we had the case of Schapelle Corby who got a 20 years sentence and almost in the same time, a dutch and a french were sentenced also to death in a criminal case involving production of psychotropic. The above are the most "famous" case, but Indonesian courts have seen more "bule" appearing and being sentenced for "minor" offences. All got harsh punishment.
Still countless young bule come to Indonesia and persist to ignore the ongoing stiff regulation. As Bert said, we are talking more about stupidity (to say the least) rather than unluckyness.
It would be far to easy to blame Indonesian justice "targetting" foreigners. Indonesian justice is not more lenient with his fellows and Indonesian caught with a couple of joints receive harsher sentences than "bule" in many cases simply because they often can't afford a lawyer who will have the good "arguments" to ensure them (read: to buy) the recognition of "mitigating circumstances".

Well balanced and fair too. Thanks for recapping for us all this ongoing story of idiocy, bad luck and needless waste that can be mirrored in almost any country around the world.

I just wonder what people will think of us in a hundred years? Locking in small boxes so many of our fellow human beings for no reasonable purpose to no discernible effect and with no particular show of remorse.

Me, for one, I'm very, very sorry. Truly.

Originally Posted by BALIHI

I DOUBT THEY WILL GO AFTER THE SELLER OF THOSE JOINTS .

As far as I know, they will (if not done already) go after them. BNN (Badan Narkotika Nasional) usually do a great job and it has means (material and financial) that most of the other sections of the police just don't have. It is quite easy for them to catch fishes (small or big) all over Indonesia.
I am always amazed to read very negative input based on assumptions by people with no or poor knowledge of the Indonesian judicial system.
I remenber some years ago a discussion I had with a "KomBes". Komisaris besar are already quite high ranking police officer who are usually Kapolda/Kapoltabes or occupy similar functions. He made a statement that surprised me at that time, by telling me more or less this: "If I (meaning Pak komBes) am involved in a murder case, I know I may be able to find my way out. However If I am involved in a drug case, I know I won't." The underlying meaning of it really surprised me at that time. In a policeman mind, a drug case is a more evil stuff than a murder! :shock: Coming from a high ranking official, it left me perplex, but I have to say that he was right. So far, any cases I have studied proved him right.

I would like to try and understand why you, and your policeman, think this way about drug cases.

Is it because drug cases often have no clear cut victim and/or perpetrator as do murder cases?

Originally Posted by Markit

I would like to try and understand why you, and your policeman, think this way about drug cases.

Did I write that I was thinking the same than the policeman?
What I said is that he was right in his statement: it is far more easy to get "out" from a murder case rather than a drug case. Drug cases involves a lot of money and anyone will milk the offenders: Police, lawyers, prosecutors and judges. It also explain why they will certainly (if not done yet as I stated) go after those who sold the joints.