CFMEU official Robert Paul McJannett on Bali drug charges
By Cindy Wockner and Komang Suriadi in Bali and Janet Fife-Yeomans in Sydney
The Daily Telegraph
December 30, 2009
Robert Paul McJannett is taken away by an Indonesian policeman after being arrested for drugs at a Bali airport.
Surely this is all a big mistake? An Australian Labor Party fundraiser,and Unionist accused of possession and importing DRUGS in Bali? For God’s sake man say it ain’t so!!!! one of the custodeons of Australia’s Moral Compass a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions,ACTU,accused of such a crime? Please someone tell me I have awoken after too much Christmas cheer and am befuddled and confused? No?
I am sure Comrade Kevin 07 Rudd and the Australian Labor Party will be able to sort out this obvious mistake made here by the Bali Police and this good servant of the ALP and the CFMEU will be able to continue on with his holiday unhindered by any further mistakes been made by the authorities.
AN Australian union leader faces a lengthy stint in an Indonesian jail after allegedly trying to smuggle just 2g of marijuana hidden in a sock into Bali.
CFMEU official Robert Paul McJannett was arrested early yesterday at Bali's airport and is now in custody at the holiday island's police headquarters, being interrogated about the drugs found in his luggage.
The marijuana was allegedly in a plastic ziplock bag hidden in a sock along with sachets of coffee. Coffee is used to disguise the smell of drugs.
McJannett may be sent to Kerobokan jail, where Schapelle Corby, who was arrested in similar circumstances, and the heroin gang dubbed the Bali Nine, are held.
As he was transferred in handcuffs from the airport Customs office to the police station yesterday, McJannett, 48, asked why the "paparazzi" were photographing him.
McJannett, a Perth crane operator who this year challenged for leadership of the West Australian branch of the CFMEU, arrived in Bali with his 21-year-old son on Virgin flight 4172 about 11.30pm on Monday.
The pair had planned a five-day holiday in the popular resort island.
But when Customs officers searched McJannett's suitcase they allegedly found the 2g of marijuana.
Bagus Endro, the head of Customs investigations at Ngurah Rai airport, said an X-ray of McJannett's suitcase had raised suspicions because the tin foil had shown up.
Mr Endro said that when McJannett was initially approached he had refused to open the small bag containing the drugs.
He allegedly later claimed a business partner may have wanted to trap him.
The Customs official said McJannett had initially refused a urine test and had made a failed attempt to throw the drug into a drain in the detention room.
Under Indonesia's harsh drug laws, McJannett is likely to face charges of possession and importing drugs, which carry a sentence of up to 10 years behind bars.
He is the latest in a long line of Australians who have found themselves on the wrong side of Indonesia's drug regime after being arrested on Bali.
Former Gold Coast beauty therapy student Schapelle Corby is serving a 20-year sentence after being arrested with 4.1kg of marijuana in her luggage as she came into Bali.
Three members of the Bali Nine are currently on death row for their roles in an 8.2kg heroin haul.
Other Australian tourists arrested with small amounts of drugs while holidaying in Bali have served terms of up to six months for drug possession.
Could this be Schapelle Corby’s revenge upon the ACTU?
Were the drugs his or his son’s and is he just taking the fall ?
Either way there are, unless Beijing’s man on the ground in Australia, and the ACTU’s #1 member,Australian PM Kevin 07 Rudd, can make a few phone calls to his new best friends in Indonesia,many tears before bed time to be shed by Robert Paul McJannett and his Family and his fellow ALP /ACTU Comrades before this “arrest mistake” is sorted out.
Good Luck Bob you are gonna NEED IT.
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