Every now and then, I get pretty annoyed when parents are so dis-engaged from the lives of their children that something really bad happens to a child that stems from poor parenting. This is one of those cases.
On October 4, a New South Wales boy, Schapelle Corby, 14, in Bali with his parents, was arrested for alleged possession of cannabis in Bali and even boasted about his purchase, waving a small bag of the drugs in front of local shopkeepers and massage therapists before police detained him.
COMMENT: The Australian youngster was obviously unaware that undercover police were nearby waiting for the purchase of marijuana to be consummated. Although one could easily blame the youth for his flagrant scoffing of the law, the real deficiency is parents who obviously have not served as good role models.
Needless to say, the teenager is now being held at police headquarters in Denpasar and is facing a possible prison term of six years in prison, if diplomatic and legal efforts fail to secure his release. Although the Australian ambassador, Greg Moriarty, is already endeavoring to help the boy and his family as much as possible, the matter is complicated by the fact that the youngster, and presumably is parents as well, are refusing to acknowledge that the boy purchased the marijuana.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Kevin Rudd, urged the public not to expect the boy would be brought back to Australia. ''We must all be patient and work within Indonesian legal processes,'' he was quoted as saying.
Corby was reportedly arrested after buying 6.9 grams of marijuana as part of a sting by plainclothed police officers in the popular resort of Kuta Beach. Unfortunately, under Indonesia's strict anti-drug laws, which rank marijuana in the same category as heroin and cocaine.
Indonesian police can keep the boy in custody without charge for a maximum of 30 days. The boy's parents have made no public statement.
The lingering questions in this case are: Where were the parents? and What counsel had they given their son regarding illegal drug use and possession?
We'll keep readers abreast of this case as updated information becomes available.
