Here's a local news story that some of you may be interested in:
'An American musician has been fined almost $4,000 (Australian) in
the Brisbane Magistrates Court fo importing cocaine, and not declaring
$A12,000 in cash.
47 year old Gil Scott-Heron, a singer, pianist and poet from
Chicago, pleaded guillty to three charges of importing a prohibited
substance, failing to declare the cash, and possessing a marijuana pipe.
He was detained at Brisbane International Airport last Thursday
after arriving on a Malaysian Airlines flight from London via Kuala Lumpur.
Officials said he had 4 grams of cocaine in his luggage, and the
cash 0 which should have been disclosed to customs.
Barrister Dan O'Gorman told the court it was a stupid act done
unthinkingly when the musician was ill with diabetes and scoliosis.
Scott-Heron is touring Australia with fellow black musician Ben Harper.
He's scheduled to fly to Europe on Sunday for an 8 day tour before
returning to the US.
Chiel Stipendiary Magistrate Stan Deer says he won't jail the
musician, although the maximum sentence available is 2 years.
He fined him a total of $A3,750, in default 4 months jail, and
allowed him a week to pay.'
Marc.