Christian leader caught with 750g of ice hidden in thick-soled boots

[Jabberwocky]

A devoted Christian was allegedly groomed by an international drug lord to smuggle a large batch of ice into Australia inside three pairs of thick-soled boots.

Papua New Guinea man Charles Litau has denied importing the deadly drug from Hong Kong and claimed he had no idea it was hidden in his luggage when he was intercepted at Darwin International Airport in March 15, 2015.

The defence lawyer of the former Telecom PNG CEO and Seventh Day Adventists leader said he was directed to take the boots to Australia, where he would have a 'job interview' and receive $1000, reports NT News.

Mr Litau's lawyer John Lawrence said 'Mr Big' had raised the topic of religion with him in text message conversations, referring to himself as a 'God-fearing man.'

'Some people are gullible and naive...It's not a question of 'he should have known' – the question is: 'did he know?' he told the jury.

After being alerted by the strong smell of glue, Australian Federal Police used an X-ray machine to reveal the concealed drugs.

Holes had been drilled in two pairs of thick-soled black boots and one pair of brown boots, with a total of 750g of ice hidden inside the shoes.

Mr Litau told customs he's been at a telecommunications conference before flying to Australia, but later told police he had interviewed for a job with a cocoa production business.

He allegedly had three separate hotel bookings for the Novotel, Leprechaun Resort and The Cavenagh, with on of the bookings under the pseudonym of 'Phillip Frost'.

The trial is ongoing.


Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...smuggle-ice-Darwin-International-Airport.html

 

[slimvictor]

A devoted Christian was allegedly groomed by an international drug lord

Maybe not such a devoted Christian?
His behavior suggests otherwise.
And, was it really an "international drug lord" that was willing to "groom" someone over time and with expense and risk just to move 750 grams?
Seems sensationalist to me.

 

[belligerent drunk]

What does being christian, or religious for that matter, have to do with anything? I don't mean to offend anyone, but being religious doesn't automatically make anyone righteous or good. It's the person's actions that determine what kind of a human being they are, not whether they go to a fancy building and chant some words once in a while.

 

[namnoc16]

^
I'm with you drunk!!

 

[Foreigner]

Yeah... his identity as a religious person is irrelevant.

 

[RDP89]

Maybe not such a devoted Christian?
His behavior suggests otherwise.
And, was it really an "international drug lord" that was willing to "groom" someone over time and with expense and risk just to move 750 grams?
Seems sensationalist to me.

He might very well be a devoted christian. Afaik, the christian ideology says nothing against smuggling drugs. I could be wrong though, not really up to date on that whole beleif system.

 

[slimvictor]

^ Yeah, tbh, I am not either.
But when I imagine a devoted Christian, I think of someone who doesn't want to break any laws, and is anti-drug.
Someone who wouldn't risk their life to illegally transport meth on behalf of a "drug lord", for example.

 

[ro4eva]

What does being christian, or religious for that matter, have to do with anything? I don't mean to offend anyone, but being religious doesn't automatically make anyone righteous or good. It's the person's actions that determine what kind of a human being they are, not whether they go to a fancy building and chant some words once in a while.

As someone who was raised in a very conservative Christian home and dragged to church every weekend, I must say that your comment is, in my opinion, spot on, and I couldn't agree more. You are so right - too bad that some of my family members would disagree, but I digress.

 

[MushroomRyder25]

He might very well be a devoted christian. Afaik, the christian ideology says nothing against smuggling drugs. I could be wrong though, not really up to date on that whole beleif system.

I agree...as a side note though I have a friend who is born again and takes it very seriously and swears he would never consciously sin and what not. His sole objection to marijuana, his pastor said the same thing to me one day years ago, is that it's illegal and a Christian should always follow the established laws of the area in which they live.
Off topic but somewhat relevant I guess.

Either way, I agree with what everyone's saying about them mentioning his religion. I would think it's just to mention that he is something of a celebrity to certain people but I don't know.

Edit: I'm not saying that their (friend and pastor) reasoning is good or even makes sense. I mean I'm sure there are certain places where following the law would actually result in you praying to a different god or doing something else that clearly isn't in line with Christianity. It's just the reason I was given.

 

[slimvictor]

What does being christian, or religious for that matter, have to do with anything? I don't mean to offend anyone, but being religious doesn't automatically make anyone righteous or good. It's the person's actions that determine what kind of a human being they are, not whether they go to a fancy building and chant some words once in a while.

Yeah, it is a bit late, but I just wanted to say that I never assumed that being christian implied anything about whether he was good or righteous.
Just that he would have a belief system provided for him - that is what religion is, right? - and that a "devoted christian" wouldn't act against that system.
So, I guess you read something into my comment that I didn't intend to be there.
No biggie.
Carry on....