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Happiness turns into horror for aspiring Brunei model
By Azaraimy HH, James Kon & Waleed PD Mahdini
The legal fight in a Chinese high court to free a 26-year-old Bruneian woman of drug trafficking charges has failed.
"For us, whether she is guilty has never been the question because we believe without a doubt that she was a victim of an international drug syndicate. We just want to make that clear and clear her name publicly and we hope that the public will know and not think of her otherwise."
This was the message that the family members of the 26-year-old local woman who recently received a life imprisonment by the Chinese legal system wanted to convey to the public in the hope of clearing her name, at least here in her birthplace.
She was detained by the Chinese Anti Smuggling Bureau, Shanghai Customs, as soon as she arrived at the Pudong International airport on flight MH388 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 11, 2009.
She was apprehended for trying to smuggle 894.05 grammes of heroin into the country, an amount punishable by death under Chinese law. But because she was a foreign national, her sentence was commuted to that of life imprisonment.
The small packets, containing heroin, were uncovered inside the lining of her bag. She was believed to be a victim of an international syndicate, which convinced her into becoming a drug mule by using various tricks and tactics through Internet chats and emails.
Since then, her family has approached various government ministries and agencies, seeking advice and support to clear her name and to ask for leniency.
Despite engaging the best law firm in Shanghai and with all the evidence against her placed on the affidavit before the court, the Chinese high court rejected her appeal and she will now be spending the rest of her life in a Chinese prison.
"Although we were utterly disappointed with the verdict, the fact now is that we have to accept it and we're deeply saddened with this terrible news," the elder brother of the 26-year-old woman said in an interview with the Borneo Bulletin.
"For me," said the brother, "she is innocent." But what is equally important right now is for the public to use our bitter lesson as an effective deterrence for other Bruneians not to be easily swayed or tempted by the attractive offers of these notorious drug traffickers to lure their innocent victims to their devious scheme, he added.
According to her brother they are unable to appeal further as "our family cannot bear to cover the cost of this huge sum". He went on to clarify: "It's not about whether we want to pay, it's a question of whether we can afford to. The first hearing and the recent appeal have already cost us a lot."
He told the Bulletin that it would cost around $50,000 just to reopen the case, notwithstanding the additional cost of engaging a lawyer and the court costs. "So, as much as we desperately want to, making another appeal looks very slim for us."
The fact that she is hundreds of miles away from home makes it difficult to visit her too and under Chinese prison regulations, even if they could, they could only do so once a month, the family was told.
The elder brother also clarified further that their intention to speak to the press was in no way an attempt to interfere with the verdict, but he stressed that one of the most difficult parts during the hearing was the communication problem, because he said he had difficulty understanding anything even though there was an interpreter - albeit one that spoke very sparsely.
According to her brother, his sister did not have any previous criminal record and that her dream was always to become a professional model. Unfortunately, she saw her opportunity through the cleverly crafted disguise offered by an evil drug syndicate.
The brother recounted that the syndicate offered her an overseas modelling job in Shanghai. She was invited out to Malaysia and meet with the facilitators - a Nigerian couple. Once there, she also met two other aspiring Malaysian models.
He said that her sister had told him that she came into contact with the Nigerian couple through chats online some three months prior to her departure to Kuala Lumpur. When she arrived there, she realised prior to her departure to China her luggage had been changed.
The Nigerian couple told her that the zip of her suitcase was broken and that they had repacked her belonging into another suitcase and that it was already waiting for her in the taxi that was to drive them to the airport. They reassured her further by giving her US$1,000 pocket money.
According to her, the brother told the Bulletin, she was calm and unsuspecting when the Chinese customs officials attentively scanned her bag for a second time at the airport. It was after that that she was detained. Her smile turned to shock, her happiness into horror and sadness and her dreams of a high-flying career into a tragic nightmare.
The brother said that his family was informed of her plight when the Brunei Embassy in China rang them up.
In court, she made a statement that was read out by her lawyer in Mandarin. "I hope that my countrymen will know that I am innocent and that I am not, nor was I ever, a drug smuggler. I hope that all my relatives and my countrymen will not give up on me until I have my freedom back." This was her statement in court. She also wished to further clarify to the court that the official statement that she made and signed for the authorities was made under duress and under extreme coercion by the authorities.
"She might be suffering now, but it is important for us that this story is turned into a valuable lesson to warn others about the dangers, especially not to fall prey to any online modelling recruitment agency, no matter how legitimate or real they seem," said the brother.
Her family also conveyed their sincere thanks and gratitude to the Brunei government and to the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in the People's Republic of China for all the assistance rendered to them.
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Jgn mudah terpedaya.... |
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Polar girl completes 9-day training in NZ
By Aziz Idris
Era from Brunei (seated) in the evening tent in Wanaka, New Zealand.
The eight ladies (Era 3rd from right) who will be venturing to the South Pole come New Year 2010. - PHOTOS COURTESY OF WWW.COMMONWEALTHEXPEDITION.COM
During the training in New Zealand.
The gears weighed up to 80kg.
Dk Najibah Eradah binti P AM Al-Sufri Pg M-L Kahar, Era in short, will be the first Bruneian to reach the South Pole.
The whole team of eight women from the Commonwealth has been granted a full fund for their expedition to Antarctica after Kaspersky Lab agreed to sponsor the trip.
This was announced during an official press conference held on September 15 at the National Geographic store in Vivo City, Singapore.
There, it was officially announced Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions, as the title sponsor and the expedition is now called the Kaspersky Commonwealth Expedition.
In a press release from Kaspersky Lab, Harry Cheung, Managing Director of Kaspersky Lab Asia Pacific said, "The Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition is an important awareness initiative and a remarkable team effort.
"Kaspersky Lab's support for such projects is part of our corporate social responsibility policy.
"Our company shares the ideas and principles of international solidarity that have made this expedition possible. Just like the expedition team, we ignore stereotypes and prejudices in our work and recognise the reality of the modern world.
"We are honoured to sponsor the Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition."
Era, who has recently completed her nine-day training in Christchurch, New Zealand prior to the press conference, was ecstatic upon hearing the good news.
"Kaspersky is now our title sponsor. We have Sophia (Singapore) to thank for getting the sponsorship.
"Without Kaspersky, we would not have been able to go. Thank you Harry and thank you Kaspersky!" she told the Bulletin.
When asked on her experiences during the training in New Zealand she said, "It was very tough this time as I was pulling 60 to 80 kilogrammes of weight consisting of food supplies and equipment. Previously in Norway, it was only 40 kilogrammes".
The track in New Zealand was icier with steep slopes whereas in Antarctica they were told the altitude would gradually increase.
The purpose of the training in New Zealand was to increase team bonding especially within the group.
"The reason behind this is because we will be skiing to the South-Pole in two groups of four and we have finalised who will be in which group," she said.
Era will be in the same group with Singapore, United Kingdom and Cyprus.
The team will comprise eight members, led by Felicity (UK), Helen a reserve also from the UK, Stephanie from Cyprus, Sophia from Singapore, Kim from Jamaica, Charmaine from New Zealand and their cameramen Rob.
During the training, the ladies found out roughly that their pace of skiing in the beginning would be one kilometre per hour.
"The training also taught us on our tent routine...where it's basically a system that ensures the tent is set up as efficiently as possible," she added.
Representing five continents, six faiths and seven languages, the expedition will mark the 60th Anniversary of the Commonwealth, which is an association of 53 nations incorporating more than two billion people around the globe.
The aim of the expedition is to reflect the ethos of the Commonwealth by promoting greater understanding and cooperation between nations and to highlight the achievements of women worldwide.
The Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Expedition starts in November 2009 with the plan to reach the South Pole by New Year's Day 2010.
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hom proud of Era... |
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Brunei's Health Minister praises WHO's leadership in H1N1 flu fight
By Narissa Noor
The Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, is representing Brunei Darussalam at the 60th Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific, which is currently being held in Hong Kong.
The meeting, which began on Monday, is held annually to examine activities and plans of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the region.
Following the 62nd World Health Assembly held last May in Geneva, the meeting will continue to discuss the effects of the global financial crisis and its repercussions on health in the region.
The WHO called fo-r effective measures to be taken to perpetuate vested interest in public health by reinforcing the public health system and preventing its deterioration during the global economic crisis.
In response, health ministers have amended the 2010-2015 Health Financing Strategy in Asia and the Pacific to take into account the variable changes in the socio-economic environment.
Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi lauded the initial report from the Regional Director, Dr Shin Young-Soo, for outlining the WHO vision for the Western Pacific that will work to assist member countries to recognise current health issues and consequently ensure that steps to improve health standards in the region be taken.
The minister also conveyed his gratitude, on behalf of the people of Brunei, to Dr Margaret Chan, the WHO Director General, for her leadership and efforts in combating the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.
Through WHO's direction, member countries have been able to take a united stance in the implementation of health regulations to prevent and contain the fast-spreading pandemic.
Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi urged the WHO to continue its role in ensuring health equity and accessibility especially during the current economic climate that has been further immobilised by the H1N1 outbreak.
Global, regional and national coordination during a time of crisis are vital in guaranteeing measures be implemented effectively, the minister said.
H1N1 was the main focus of this year's meeting and a special technical session regarding the virus was held to discuss the current global situation and propositions for the preparations and counteractions of the pandemic.
The 60th Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific will conclude tomorrow (September 25). |
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woweee..didn't know diz exist {:1_134:}Salamz y'all especially Bruneian  |
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1565# luntur
Salam luntur..yes I am & yourself? |
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ditto! proud of ERA too..her commitment & dedication is marvelous..way to go girl! 1562# cmf_holmes |
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1551# cmf_holmes
BRIDEX was great..learned somethin new & had fun {:1_134:} bravo for the organizers & everyone involved  |
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salam jahti... |
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A 24-year-old Indonesian maid was produced before the Bandar Magistrate's Court yesterday to face a charge of attempted murder of her employer's one-year and two-month-old baby. www.brudirect.com |
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Category: Negeri & Negara
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Post time 25-9-2009 09:27 AM
