Cassandra Sainsbury's cocaine smuggling case 'could be closed in 90 days if she admit

[poledriver]

Cassie Sainsbury reaches plea bargain deal with Colombian authorities

ACCUSED drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury has reached a deal with Colombian authorities for a reduced sentence, a source has confirmed to news.com.au.

The South Australian woman, who is accused of trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine out of Bogota airport in her suitcase, has reached a “pre-agreement” with the Colombian Fiscalia, or attorney-general.

A judge will decide whether he accepts the deal when she appears before court in the Colombian capital on Wednesday, local time.

Ms Sainsbury is facing 20 years in jail if she is found guilty of smuggling 5.8kg of cocaine inside 18 headphone cases.

The Fiscalia source, who spoke to news.com.au on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Ms Sainsbury had admitted to the authority’s version of events in order to strike the deal.

“Generally, pre-agreements are realised when the captured person accepts something of what the Fiscalia has accused them of, the benefit of which could be a reduction in penalty,” the Fiscalia source told news.com.au in comments translated from Spanish.

“In the case of Cassie, they will only know in the hearing tomorrow what the agreement is.

“At the end of the hearing, the judge will say whether or not he approves of the agreement.”

If the judge agrees to the deal, which includes an agreed reduced sentence, a new court date will be set for formal sentencing.

Cont -

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...&utm_source=DailyTelegraph&utm_medium=Twitter

 

[poledriver]

Cassie Sainsbury’s plea deal with Colombian prosecutors over cocaine smuggling charge

CASSIE Sainsbury has arrived at a Bogotá court in her first public appearance since her April 12 arrest.
She is being supported by her mother Lisa Evans, fiance Scott Broadbridge and two other unidentified women, who all arrived in a white van.
The 22-year-old was bundled from the back of a prison van before being escorted inside the criminal court by 10 mostly female prison guards. She did not speak to waiting media.

COURT HEARING BEGINS

The prosecutor first read out a lengthy charge sheet, with pauses for a translator to explain to the packed court.
It detailed how Sainsbury was first approached by police who asked to search her green, wheeled bag as she tried to leave El Dorado Airport at 10.15pm on April 12.
She agreed and police found clothes in her 10.3kg bag as well as 18 black plastic wrapped packages. The court heard they were “covered with a strange dusty material” which a narco test revealed was cocaine.
Testing showed the net weight of the drugs was 5.99kg.
She was arrested at 11.15, read her rights and offered access to legal counsel.

Cassie’s mother Lisa occasionally teared up as the charges were read and at one point reached over and touched Scott Broadbridge’s leg, asking if he was ok.
The wording of the charge refers to drug smuggling being “against the public health”.

PLEA BARGAIN

Sainsbury struck a plea deal with Colombian prosecutors over her attempt to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine out of Bogota, in an agreement which will be aired during her court appearance today.
The former South Australian fitness instructor will serve a maximum seven years in El Buen Pastor prison if the judge hearing her case today agrees to terms put forward by her lawyer and prosecutors.

CONT -

http://www.news.com.au/world/south-...e/news-story/8002cbd7a08d78423e6e0333ccdf4d7c

 

[poledriver]

BREAKING NEWS: 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury, 22, faces SIX YEARS in Colombian jail over drug smuggling charge after she strikes a plea deal with prosecutors

Cassie Sainsbury could be out of jail in three years if judge accepts her plea deal
She was caught with 5.6 kilograms of cocaine leaving Bogota Airport on April 12
The 22-year-old from Adelaide appeared in Colombian court on Thursday
Judge will decide whether to accept plea deal and give her reduced sentence

Cassie Sainsbury will likely spend six years in a Colombian jail after striking a plea deal with prosecutors.
The Adelaide woman showed little reaction in a Bogotá court after admitting her role in attempting to smuggle 5.6 kilograms of cocaine out of the country in April.
Dressed in a grey jumper, the 22-year-old kept her head low as a pack of female prison guards escorted her past a waiting media scrum outside of court on Thursday.
According to News Corp, Sainsbury's legal team and prosecutors have negotiated a sentence of six years jail and a fine of 450 minimum monthly wages, and now await the ruling of Senior Judge Sergio Leon.
As part of the plea deal, Sainsbury will be required to turn informant and exchange information and names of people involved in the drug cartel she had allegedly been caught up with.
Her fiancé Scott Broadbridge and mother Lisa Sainsbury, both who were paid huge sums of money for exclusive interviews with Australian television networks, flew in for the hearing.
Ms Sainsbury reportedly broke down in tears as some of her daughter's charges were read out in court, at one point holding Scott's leg for comfort.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-court-Colombia-plea-deal.html#ixzz4nyhvUYBO

 

[poledriver]

Could be out in 3 years. Haha so many people are going to be so pissed off about this on social media. All the idiots who keep commenting she should be executed etc. They'll all be livid. lol.

 

[Boku_]

All i'll say is the old saying "Don't count your chickens until they are hatched" This reduced sentence due to a plea deal is yet to be finalised or confirmed. If i was in this poor girls shoes i would be shitting myself if i couldn't provide credible information about the Syndicate calling the shots about this doomed to fail amateur attempt to smuggle cocaine. The real dodgy thing about this whole scenario is that Cassie's plane tickets were booked in Hong Kong and Cassie wasn't even boarding a direct or even semi direct flight to Australia when she was arrested, She was booked to fly to the UK first wasn't she? That whole situation just screams international drug smuggling Syndicate! How professional or organised is this International drug smuggling Syndicate is the real mystery. The fact the Cassie worked as a prostitute and pretended to be a personal trainer aside there must be a lot more to this failed attempted at smuggling cocaine predicament Cassie has got herself into.

What i don't get is why would the Colombians issue a press release stating she would get 30 years unless she rats out the ring leaders, surely if the people calling the shots or her contact for supplying the cocaine get arrested that would put both Cassie's life in danger seeing as she is housed in general population at the Bogota prison and her families lives in danger. It's going to get very interesting in this case over the next few days or weeks. If the Colombians play hard ball and throw the book at Cassie she is going to be in big trouble.

 

[Boku_]

Could be out in 3 years. Haha so many people are going to be so pissed off about this on social media. All the idiots who keep commenting she should be executed etc. They'll all be livid. lol.

Nah for your information poledriver unlike Asia they don't execute drug mules in South American. Sure pretty much all jails and prisons in South American countries like Columbia are plagued with violence overcrowding and hellishly dirty and disease ridden conditions for the inmates most people on social media are pissed that this poor girl's family and boyfriend are milking the chance to earn some quick bucks with exclusive interviews etc...Not too mention the right wing radio social commentators who believe the Australian tax payer should not have to support Cassie's legal costs. Whether she deserves to serve a lengthy Jail sentence is a matter of opinion but the reality for most drug mules arrested they were ultimately being exploited by criminals higher up the criminal food chain and if the deal was successful the organisers and financiers would have made hundred of thousands of dollars or even millions but more than often if the mule is busted the organisers and financiers face no consequences while the poor drug mules life is ruined. You think people would be more sympathetic to Cassie's predicament.

 

[poledriver]

Her fiancé Scott Broadbridge and mother Lisa Sainsbury, both who were paid huge sums of money for exclusive interviews with Australian television networks, flew in for the hearing.

I bet this is in some ways why she was able to get this deal. Money the media paid her family which in turn has been used in part to fund some really good lawyers. My guess anyway. If she names names of people who may be connected her and her family may be at serious risk. It's not like no one knows who they all are. There faces and names are all over the media, and which suburbs they live in.

 

[poledriver]

Boku, I just meant that other people are calling for her to be executed on social media, on facebook news posts and such.

 

[Boku_]

Boku, I just meant that other people are calling for her to be executed on social media, on facebook news posts and such.

Ah fair enough.

 

[poledriver]

Cassandra Sainsbury: Colombian judge defers decision on plea bargain due to 'complex case'

Accused drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury's Colombian court hearing has been suspended, with the judge deferring a decision on whether to accept the Australian's plea bargain over cocaine trafficking charges.

Sainsbury fronted a Bogota court this morning after being arrested at the city's El Dorada International Airport in April with nearly six kilograms of cocaine in her possession.

The 22-year-old struck a plea deal with prosecutors that would have seen her serve a six-year jail term and accept responsibility for drug trafficking.

When prompted by the court, Sainsbury said "it was my decision" to accept the deal.

She admitted to carrying the drugs but told the court she did it reluctantly because of death threats to her family.

Cont -
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-...s-decision-plea-bargain/8748064?sf101384631=1

 

[poledriver]

Why Cassie Sainsbury could get an even lighter sentence

THERE was surprise in Australia when it was revealed that accused drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury had negotiated a plea bargain for a six-year jail sentence.
But it is possible that she will be given an even lighter sentence when she faces court in Colombia Thursday morning, Australian time.
The Adelaide woman, who is accused of trying to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine out of Bogota airport in April, negotiated down a 30-year maximum jail term to six years in return for pleading guilty.

But in a surprising twist in a Bogota courtroom last month, Senior Judge Sergio Leon delayed approval of the agreement after the 22-year-old said she had been “coerced” into carrying the drugs found in her suitcase.
Ms Sainsbury’s Colombian lawyer Orlando Herran told news.com.au that it was “probable” the judge would lessen her sentence.
“Going on what the judge said of the agreement, it is probable that the sentence is going to be lowered a bit, so it could be five years,” he told news.com.au in comments translated from Spanish.

However, the same lawyer offered a contradictory prediction when he later spoke to News Corp Australia in Bogota.
Mr Herran said her case would likely go to trial if she stuck to the story that she was threatened into smuggling the drugs.

Mr Herran said Ms Sainsbury was ignoring the advice of both her legal team and her family to take the six-year plea deal because she was concerned about her reputation in Australia.
However, a source from the Colombian Fiscalia, or attorney-general, confirmed to news.com.au that a more lenient sentence was possible.
“He could say, ‘As a judge, I cannot approve this agreement and condemn Cassie, when Cassie is saying that she did it because she was threatened’,” said the source, who spoke to news.com.au on condition of anonymity.
“So, she is like a victim, so he can’t impose a sentence as if she did it consciously, as it was involuntary.

Cont -

http://www.news.com.au/travel/trave...SF&utm_source=News.com.au&utm_medium=Facebook

 

[Boku_]

Well well well it's currently 4:45 pm in Bogota Columbia so i can't imagine we will need to wait much longer to find out Cassie's fate.

6 years is nothing compared to doing 30. Interesting that's for sure

 

[poledriver]

CASSIE SHOT DOWN: Aussie’s plea bargain thrown out by judge

ALLEGED drug mule Cassie Sainsbury faces 20 years in prison after a judge threw out a plea-deal between her lawyers and prosecutors when she insisted she had been threatened.
Judge Leon rejected the plea agreement on the grounds that she had not accepted full responsibility for trying to smuggle the drugs.

The prosecution told the court it will now ‘retire’ any plea-deal agreement with Ms Sainsbury, and will instead present their case before a full trial.
A prosecution source said she now faces a minimum of 21 years and a maximum of 30 years. Under the plea deal, she would have served only six.

It will now be up to Ms Sainsbury and her lawyers to prove her claims of being threatened in order to avoid jail.
Sainsbury has been led out of the court to await trial from a women’s prison.

INNOCENCE MAINTAINED

Ms Sainsbury’s lawyer Orlando Herran said shortly before the session began that Ms Sainsbury planned to stick by her story.
Sainsbury was escorted by heavy security through a media scrum outside the court five minutes after her mother Lisa Evans and fiance Scott Broadbridge arrived.

Inside court, Ms Sainsbury told the judge she desperately needed $10,000. She contacted a man named ‘Nathan’ through a website in Hong Kong, believing she was being asked to carry sensitive documents.
Money was transferred through a Western Union account in Bogota.
Here Sainsbury repeated her claim she was forced to carry drugs, and threatened at gunpoint.

CONT -

http://www.news.com.au/world/south-...d/news-story/a5d474d8bf089075a04eb93d60e5f0ab

 

[Jabberwocky]

If you can't admit a ounce of responsibility you deserve then to be sentenced to 20 - 30 years in a shit hole country.

I mean come on, everyone knows if you are a drug mule you are just as guilty as the person you were carrying for albeit comiting a lower end crime.

 

[poledriver]

'Until people know completely what happened they shouldn't be forming opinions': Emotional 'Cocaine' Cassie Sainsbury's plea ahead of explosive tell-all interview

Cassie Sainsbury was arrested in Colombia with 5.9 kilograms of cocaine
She has been in prison awaiting trial since April and had plea deal canned
The 22-year-old will do a 'tell-all interview' with 60 Minutes next week
Broadcaster claims she will give her full side of the story to the program

Appearing emotional and flushed, Cassie Sainsbury reveals explosive new details of her alleged crimes from behind bars in Colombia.
A new preview from the 'tell-all interview' with 60 Minutes has shown Sainsbury defending herself for the first time, five months after she was arrested with 5.9 kilograms of cocaine in a Colombian airport.
'Until people know completely what happened they shouldn't be forming opinions,' Sainsbury said.

The 22-year-old appeared to be teary eyed as she told journalist Liam Bartlett 'people have had a lot of digs at me because I can't defend myself' to which he replied 'this is your chance'.
Telling her side of the story, the South Australian woman was asked 'who talked you into it' where she responded that she was threatened and if she didn't do the job, she was 'going to lose [her] family'.
The preview suggested the five-month saga began in Adelaide, Sainsbury's home town.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tails-ahead-tell-interview.html#ixzz4tLZrgLws

 

[poledriver]

Cassandra Sainsbury says locked phone proves death threats used to bully her into cocaine plot

Accused Australian drug mule Cassandra Sainsbury says she cannot remember how to unlock her mobile phone, which contains evidence of threats to kill her family.

The 22-year-old Adelaide woman was caught at Bogota's El Dorado international airport in April, trying to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine inside 18 separate packages of headphones.

Sainsbury is due to face trial and says she has evidence to prove her innocence — she just cannot access it.

In an interview with Nine Network's 60 Minutes program, Sainsbury said she thought she had accepted a job as a legitimate courier transporting documents for $10,000 plus flights.

"I had outstanding bills, I suppose I took the risk," she said.

But at the last minute, the plans were changed and she was sent to Colombia where a "mastermind" known only as Angelo threatened to kill her mum, sister and fiance if she did not transport his drugs.

He sent her photos of her family on WhatsApp and those messages prove her innocence, she says.

What next for Sainsbury?


New evidence introduced by the accused cocaine smuggler could see her wait months if not years for a trial.
Except, she says cannot unlock it.

"It's very true. I haven't used it for nearly six months, I'm not going to remember a pattern," she said.

Since her arrest, Sainsbury has also been accused of being a sex worker — an allegation she also denies.

"I'm not a prostitute. There was some work relating with [prostitution] Club 220 but it wasn't prostitution," she said in the interview.

Sainsbury said she worked at the western Sydney brothel as a receptionist.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-...phone-shows-innocence-in-cocaine-plot/8979890

 

[poledriver]

Touching her face, giggling nervously and turning bright red: 'Cocaine' Cassie's bizarre interview behaviour explained - as viewers brand her a 'bad liar' and 'so very smug'

Cassie Sainsbury may have spoken dishonestly during interview, expert claims
She's awaiting trial after 5.9kg of cocaine was allegedly found inside suitcase
Scratched head, touched neck and smiled nervously speaking to 60 Minutes

Cassie Sainsbury's bizarre behaviour during a tell-all TV interview appeared to be a deliberate effort to hide her alleged involvement in an international drug syndicate, an expert has claimed.
Sainsbury, who is awaiting trial over 5.9kg of cocaine allegedly found inside her suitcase at a Colombian airport, sparked a social media firestorm after her 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday night.
Constantly scratching her head, touching her neck and smiling nervously, Sainsbury told the program she accepted a job as a legitimate courier before her arrest.

The 22-year-old also claimed she can't remember the code to unlock her mobile phone, which she said contains evidence that could potentially clear her name.
But body language expert Michael Kelly said Sainsbury's constant movements throughout the interview suggested dishonesty.

When you're touching your neck, scratching your head, it's like you're trying to hide the truth,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
'If people are telling the truth, they don't usually move their hands about. It's almost like she's trying to distract the listener from what she's saying.'
As the interview progressed, Sainsbury appeared to develop a rash on her neck and chest.

'When people under stress feel uncomfortable with themselves and what's happening, blood will go to the surface,' Mr Kelly explained.
'It's embarrassment.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...erview-behaviour-explained.html#ixzz4tfTWA3B6

 

[poledriver]

Cassandra Sainsbury plea-deal could deliver six-year term for cocaine smuggling

CASSIE Sainsbury’s sister has told of why she thinks the alleged drug mule deserves another chance after a new deal was struck to try and secure her release.

CASSIE Sainsbury’s family is hopeful that she will be given a second chance, after a new plea deal could see her released in three years.
Khala Sainsbury told The Sunday Mail in Adelaide she had learnt of the new deal being considered from reading articles online.

“It was the best outcome we could’ve hoped for, considering what could’ve happened,” Ms Sainsbury said.
“I could have my sister back in a couple of years.”

Ms Sainsbury said she was surprised her sister was offered a deal similar to the initial plea bargain.
“I don’t know what I thought, but I didn’t think there would be another chance of a plea bargain.

“It’s great my sister could be home in a couple of years, it’s definitely better than the 21-30 years she faced.”
Due to the time difference with Bogota, Ms Sainsbury said she was yet to speak to her mum, or hear how Cassie was feeling after the news.

“I assume she (Cassie) would be rapt and with time served already she could be home in a few years.


“It’s the best outcome we could’ve hoped for apart from her getting off.”

The mother-of-four also told 9NEWS she hopes the judge “believes that Cassie deserves a second chance”.
“I believe that she made the wrong decision,” she said.

“Obviously, she was in a hard spot. People make wrong choices all the time. This was her wrong choice.”

A FRESH HOPE

Cassie’s Colombian soap opera took a happy turn when her legal team and prosecutors struck a new deal yesterday.

The former South Australian gym owner and sex worker had been staring at 20 to 30 years in Bogota’s El Buen Pastor jail after dramatically scuppering the first deal hammered out by her lawyers.
The new deal, for a maximum 72 months and a nominal fine, was granted in-principal agreement by a judge in Colombia’s special drugs court today.
With good behaviour Sainsbury could serve half that term.

Cont -

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/re...SF&utm_source=News.com.au&utm_medium=Facebook

 

[poledriver]

Colombian judge approves Cassie Sainsbury's plea deal

A Colombian judge has agreed to a plea deal which could see accused drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury released from jail in 2019.

She was initially facing 30 years jail time but with good behaviour and time already served, she could be out sooner.

However, Sainsbury may have to spend two years in Colombia on parole after she is released.

Sainsbury was accompanied by her family as the judge accepted the plea deal but they left court without making comment. Sainsbury also looked calm as the judge's decision was handed down.

Her lawyer Orlando Herran said Sainsbury may end up serving less time with good conduct and she must also pay a fine of nearly $100,000.

Sainsbury was arrested in April at Bogota's international airport after an X-ray machine detected 5.8 kilograms of cocaine stuffed inside 18 boxes of headphones.

Cont -

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/11/01/21/11/cassie-sainsbury-to-learn-fate-over-plea-deal

 

[spacejunk]

That's great news. I just hope there are no serious ramifications for making a 'deal'. I sure as hell wouldn't want to inform on members of a columbian cartel.