Do The Crime, Do The Time.
Schapelle Corby has endured a terrible experience, and a sentence, that should serve as a hard lesson to all of us.
Her sentence, although harsh by Australian standards, was administered under the local laws of the country she found herself in, and justice was served in accordance with those laws.
It is far too easy, too simplistic and I might add, opportunistic for spectators and armchair experts to posture and speculate on what she should or shouldn’t have done. Or if she in fact did anything wrong.
The facts, although harsh in the eyes of many, are that when we are in a foreign country, and are found to break the laws of that country, we should reasonably expect to be dealt with under their law, not ours.
It is all too common for citizens of one country or another to fall foul of the prevailing laws of a host country, and then cry foul, insisting that their native country bail them out of trouble. Unfortunately this is a common occurrence.
Whether Schapelle was genuinely guilty or not, the great referee, T.I.M.E. will ultimately tell. The lesson for everyone watching this matter unfold is, if you travel, be really, really careful about local customs and laws, wherever you go.
Be sure that you are well aware of the prevailing laws, written and unwritten, the customs and etiquettes of the country you are planning to visit. Before you arrive there! Then, take the time, the effort, and the courtesy to do all you can to comply with those laws.
Otherwise, don’t cry for help after falling foul of the laws of the land wherein you are a guest.
It’s not too hard really, but recent times have seen a plethora of cases where travelers have mistakenly thought they could do whatever they like, wherever they like with a blatant disregard for local laws. Whist some may not feel obliged to comply with the laws of their own liberal societies, try it overseas and you will pay the price.
Do the crime, do the time.
Author Neil Findlay
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