- Joined
- May 22, 2011
- Messages
- 187
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Wa, only 23hrs of detention.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/01/02/281131_ntnews.html
A TERRITORY woman spent 23 hours locked up in Singapore after two rounds of live ammunition were found in her camera bag.
Jessica Powter, 34, of Katherine, was facing a mandatory five-year jail term after unwittingly bringing the two 8cm-long bullets used to shoot buffalo into Singapore - but she was let off with a warning.
The public servant cautioned other Territorians to check their luggage before travelling overseas.
"In Singapore passengers get caught (with bullets) on a daily basis," Ms Powter said.
"In the Territory there are so many people that go pig hunting and buffalo shooting as a sport and these people are travelling in and out of Asia all the time." Ms Powter had been carrying the bullets in her camera bag for three years after a one-off hunting trip.
"The bullets were rolling about in the car so I put them in my backpack and forgot about them," she said.
In that time the camera bag went through airports several times when Ms Powter took two flights to Brisbane and a trip to Cairns.
Ms Powter was once picked for a random explosives test at airport security.
It took a zealous security guard at Changi Airport Singapore to find the two 8cm-long bullets tucked away in a forgotten pouch.
Ms Powter was returning to Darwin via Singapore from a holiday in Thailand on October 13.
"The security guard had to put the bag through about three or four times before he found them."
Ms Powter had her passport confiscated, was searched and interrogated.
"They said they had to arrest me and take me to jail and I would go before a magistrate within 24 to 48 hours. I started to panic."
She was then handcuffed and, in tears, escorted from the airport.
"I kept thinking of things like Schapelle Corby and all those sort of news stories."
Ms Powter spent the next 23 hours waiting in a holding cell with five other women.
A squat toilet with only a metre wall for privacy was in the centre of the room.
Every three hours she was body searched.
"I sat there from 1pm until midday the next day. I did not hear from anyone."
During those hours the Australian Embassy informed Ms Powter's family of the situation.
Eventually a police officer spoke to the magistrate on her behalf. She was finally released after she wrote a letter of apology.
Ms Powter said the experience had made her a little nervous about travelling.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/01/02/281131_ntnews.html
A TERRITORY woman spent 23 hours locked up in Singapore after two rounds of live ammunition were found in her camera bag.
Jessica Powter, 34, of Katherine, was facing a mandatory five-year jail term after unwittingly bringing the two 8cm-long bullets used to shoot buffalo into Singapore - but she was let off with a warning.
The public servant cautioned other Territorians to check their luggage before travelling overseas.
"In Singapore passengers get caught (with bullets) on a daily basis," Ms Powter said.
"In the Territory there are so many people that go pig hunting and buffalo shooting as a sport and these people are travelling in and out of Asia all the time." Ms Powter had been carrying the bullets in her camera bag for three years after a one-off hunting trip.
"The bullets were rolling about in the car so I put them in my backpack and forgot about them," she said.
In that time the camera bag went through airports several times when Ms Powter took two flights to Brisbane and a trip to Cairns.
Ms Powter was once picked for a random explosives test at airport security.
It took a zealous security guard at Changi Airport Singapore to find the two 8cm-long bullets tucked away in a forgotten pouch.
Ms Powter was returning to Darwin via Singapore from a holiday in Thailand on October 13.
"The security guard had to put the bag through about three or four times before he found them."
Ms Powter had her passport confiscated, was searched and interrogated.
"They said they had to arrest me and take me to jail and I would go before a magistrate within 24 to 48 hours. I started to panic."
She was then handcuffed and, in tears, escorted from the airport.
"I kept thinking of things like Schapelle Corby and all those sort of news stories."
Ms Powter spent the next 23 hours waiting in a holding cell with five other women.
A squat toilet with only a metre wall for privacy was in the centre of the room.
Every three hours she was body searched.
"I sat there from 1pm until midday the next day. I did not hear from anyone."
During those hours the Australian Embassy informed Ms Powter's family of the situation.
Eventually a police officer spoke to the magistrate on her behalf. She was finally released after she wrote a letter of apology.
Ms Powter said the experience had made her a little nervous about travelling.
:oIo:
