On Death Row

[Abrad]

THE outfit is a familiar one for an Australian female facing drugs charges in Indonesia.

But Barbara Kathleen Higgs' scarf was not in aid of a claimed conversion, or return, to Islam, or even an affinity with the religion.

Shroud of shame...Barbara Higgis in court yesterday. Pic: Lukeman S Bintoro

The 43-year-old used the scarf and sunglasses, and then court papers, in an effort to hide her face as she pleaded with judges on Lombok to have "pity" and think about the effect on her family back in Australia.

She begged to be allowed to keep up the disguise.



The judges were not happy with the request to depart from usual court rules but in the end allowed the trembling woman her wish.

Higgs, from Pinjarra in Western Australia, was arrested in Lombok three months ago and now faces the harshest of Indonesia's drug laws – article 82 which carries the maximum death penalty for dealing in drugs – the same narcotics laws used to convict Australians Schapelle Corby and the Bali Nine.

She also faces two lesser charges and her lawyers say that hitting her with the main charge is an exaggeration of the case against her.

Higgs and her husband Melvin, live and run a small hotel called Buklan Baru on Lombok's Senggigi Beach tourist strip.

She was arrested in February following a tip-off about drug use from the "local community" and prosecutors allege a search of her home uncovered about 50g of marijuana and a soft drink can with which to smoke it.

Higgs faces three charges, the most serious of which encompasses import, export, sell, distribute and other matters and carries death, life or 20 years in jail.

The second charge of possession carries a 10-year maximum jail term and the third charge, of using narcotics for herself, carries a four-year maximum.

She arrived at Mataram District Court shielding her face and head with a black headscarf, in reflection of the days Australian model Michelle Leslie appeared in a Bali courtroom on drugs charges wearing a headscarf.

Ushered through the media scrum, her husband could not hide his disgust, saying "this is a joke".

Looking perplexed at Higg's plea to be allowed to continue wearing sunglasses and to cover her face with a copy of the indictment or charges against her, the judges, keen to get the case started, finally agreed.

Speaking in Indonesian, Higgs, her voice trembling and hands shaking, begged chief Judge Fachrur Rozie, saying "please help me sir. I'm really sorry, I pity my family in Australia" and "please ask the journalists to get out."

Prosecutor Raharjo Yusuf told the court it was alleged that police searched Higgs' home after receiving a tip from the community.

The 49.7g of marijuana was found inside a large suitcase.

He said it was alleged Higgs bought the marijuana from an unknown dealer for about $70 and that her urine had tested positive to traces of marijuana.

Her lawyers opted not to exercise their right to deliver a legal exception to the case and witnesses will be called when the trial resumes next week.

[Abrad]

23may06

EXPATRIATE Australian woman Barbara Kathleen Higgs faced a Lombok court on drugs charges yesterday hidden behind sunglasses and a black and gold headscarf.

Higgs, from Pinjarra in Western Australia, was arrested on the resort island of Lombok, east of Bali, three months ago after allegedly being found in possession of 50g of marijuana.

She faces the harshest of Indonesia's drug laws - article 82, which carries the maximum death penalty - the same laws used to convict Schapelle Corby and the Bali Nine. She also faces two lesser charges.

Her lawyers say the main charge is an exaggeration of the case against her and she is not a drug dealer.

Imploring the judges to think about the effect on her family, Higgs, 43, trembled as she begged to be allowed to use the headscarf to hide her face from the media.

Higgs and her husband, Melvin, live in Lombok and run a small hotel called Bulan Baru on the island's Senggigi Beach tourist strip. She was arrested in February following a tip-off from the local community.

Prosecutors say a search of her home uncovered about 50g of marijuana in a plastic bag.

Higgs faces three charges. The most serious encompasses drug importation, selling and distribution, and carries penalties of death or life in jail.

A prosecutor alleged Higgs bought the marijuana for 500,000 rupiah (about $70), and that her urine had tested positive to traces of marijuana.

[Abrad]

THE latest Australian woman to face an Indonesian court on drug charges has begged to be allowed to hide her face.

Barbara Kathleen Higgs appeared in Lombok court for her first hearing yesterday with her face covered by large black sunglasses and a black headscarf.

Imploring the judges to have "pity" and think about the effect on her family back in Australia, she begged to be allowed to maintain the disguise and to hold paper around her face to block pictures of her being taken.

The judges were not happy with the request to depart from the usual court rules, but in the end allowed the trembling 43-year-old her wish.

Higgs, from Pinjarra in Western Australia, was arrested on the resort island of Lombok, to the east of Bali, three months ago and now faces the death penalty.

She and her husband, Melvin, live in Lombok and run a small hotel on the island's Senggigi Beach tourist strip called Bulan Baru.

She was arrested in February following a tip-off about drug use from the "local community", and prosecutors claim that a search of her home uncovered about 50g of marijuana in a plastic bag.

Higgs faces three charges, the most serious of which encompasses importing and exporting drugs and usually attracts either the death sentence or between 20 years and life imprisonment. The second charge, of possession, carries a 10-year maximum; the third charge, of using narcotics for herself, carries a four-year maximum.

As she arrived at Mataram District Court her husband looked profoundly disgusted, saying: "This is a joke."

The judges looked perplexed at Higgs's plea to be allowed to continue wearing sunglasses and to cover her face but, apparently anxious to get the case started, acquiesced.

Speaking in Indonesian, Higgs, her voice trembling and hands shaking, begged Chief Judge Fachrur Rozie to "please help me, sir..

"I'm really sorry – I pity my family in Australia" and "please ask the journalists to get out", Higgs asked.

Prosecutor Raharjo Yusuf

told the court Higgs was alleged to have bought the marijuana from an unknown dealer for 500,000 rupiah (about $70).and her urine had tested positive to traces of marijuana.

Outside court Higgs's lawyer, Ainuddin, described the harsh primary charge as exaggerated, saying his client was "far from" a drug dealer. He said he would call character witness to testify to Higgs's community work and to how much she had done to help the local people.

"I can tell you my client is a good person," Ainuddin told the judges.

"She has done a lot of things for the local people,"

But he would not comment on whether the defence case will depend on the claim that the drugs were for personal use – thus bringing the lightest sentence available.

The first witnesses are expected to be called when the trial resumes next week.

[Jonah]

this is painful, heartbreaking stupidity on both parts.

[Sklander]

50 g's of weed and you can get the death penalty? That is crazy talk. I feel sorry for this woman.

[Woodman]

Really, she should have relocated to Holland.

[Psych0naut]

Maybe it's just my opinion, but that's not very funny.That woman might get executed.

[Mr. Giraffe]

The scary thing is that public opinion in Australia is largely supportive of these barbaric punishments. The poor fuckers locked up a couple of months ago were allowed to travel to Indonesia by the Australians precisely because they knew the punishments would be much harsher at the other end.

It's common for such cases to be attended by a mob baying for death and blood in exchange for the drug crimes. I suspect that large amounts of people would love to see such a situation in countries like Australia as well.