" Seeing the world " is the ambition of many young Australians. Cheap air fares have made it possible to spend time in other countries and experience the culture and sights of how other people live. For six young Australian people this has turned into their worst nightmare !
Now known as the " Peru Six ", these travellers were sharing an apartment in Lima when the buildings doorman inexplicably fell to his death. The police investigated and initially concluded that this was a suicide. The Australians continued their holiday - and eventually left the country and returned home - and all this happened over eighteen months ago.
The brother of the doorman has been agitating for a reopened investigation, claiming that the Australians threw him to his death. This claim caught the attention of the media and drew support from friends and relatives and now it has become a " cause " gaining the backing of public opinion. A judge has reopened the matter and demanded that the " Peru Six " return to Lima and face his court.
There is a very real likelihood that this may proceed to the issuing of a request for extradition. The Australians have offered to provide a statement on the matter here in this country, but that has been rejected. The case is gathering media turmoil in Peru and it is hard to imagine that a fair trial is possible if they return. Hysteria has replaced reason, and despite any sort of evidence - an expectation of guilt is hanging in the air.
Australia and Peru have exchanged extradition agreements and if Peru raises the matter with Interpol it will probably result into a world wide arrest order. Australia can then demand to see evidence to support extradition presented to an Australian court, but the matter has all the twists and turns to evolve into a messy legal bun fight.
Six young Australians await the outcome with trepidation. They are adamant that they did nothing wrong and that this death had nothing to do with them. The police there were perfectly satisfied at the time, and now the matter is fast turning into an international incident which is involving governments.
If nothing else, it illustrates the danger we face when we visit exotic destinations and place ourselves within the laws of other legal jurisdictions. Rules of evidence and summary justice may not be the same as those that exist in Australia - and once we cross that national border they are the laws under which we will live.
In the case of the " Peru Six ", this outcome awaits resolution. If the fickle finger of fate turns it back on them, their lives may be irretrievable ruined - and their freedom placed in jeopardy.
A point to ponder whenever we consider overseas travel !
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