Visit by fiance and family to see Cassie Sainsbury in prison upsets fellow prisoners
THE special treatment for Australian alleged cocaine smuggler Cassie Sainsbury in a Bogota jail is upsetting other prisoners, who claim she’s acting up for the cameras.
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IT was the reunion two TV networks have spent a fortune trying to capture.
But in the end Cassie Sainsbury met with her fiance and family without the competing camera crews that have been accompanying their every move in Bogotá, Colombia.
Bearing a single red rose and some chocolates, Scott Broadbridge arrived about 9.30am local time to see Sainsbury at El Buen Pastor, where she has spent a month since being arrested on April 11 at Bogota airport with 5.8kg of cocaine in her blue suitcase.
It was scheduled outside of usual visiting hours with the help of Australian consular officials, a move which saw other prisoners lash out at the “special treatment”.
Broadbridge was accompanied by a film crew from Seven’s Sunday Night, but they were not allowed to pass through the big blue sliding door that is the only way into the jail.
He also carried an overnight bag with some fresh clothes and toiletries.
His hour-long visit was immediately followed by one from Sainsbury’s mum Lisa Evans and sister Khala, who have a rival media contract with Nine’s 60 Minutes.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials co-ordinated their arrivals so the two groups didn’t cross paths.
60 Minutes didn’t film the pair arriving at the jail but minders employed by the program accompanied them.
They also spent just over an hour inside the prison and were accompanied by Sydney lawyer Jay Williams. None of them commented to waiting media.
Colombian authorities have repeatedly said they wouldn’t treat Sainsbury differently to any other prisoners, and that she would only be able to receive visits on the weekend, when scores of family members line the street outside the jail waiting to clear security in order to see their loved ones.
Some prisoners were yesterday fuming that Sainsbury, who last week told News Corp Australia she was being targeted and bullied, was able to enjoy a weekday visit.
“There is a lot of tension in the jail,” said one prisoner who is housed in another wing.
“Cassandra wasn’t being treated differently (before) but now that she’s pulled favours and her family are visiting her on a non-visitor day, she’ll start to be treated differently.
“There might be benefits with that but there will certainly be downsides.
“Cassie is causing problems. She’s saying that people are robbing her, extorting her and abusing her. If someone stole something at the beginning, that’s normal, it’s about power. But it’s not happening any more and she’s saying those things because she wants attention.
“I’ve seen this so many times with foreigners. They think that if they cry and do a big show for the cameras, they will get out in a couple of months, but it isn’t going to happen. They have at least four years behind bars, and pulling puppy eyes for the cameras isn’t going to change that.
“And now that her family is here, it’s like she’s acting up for the cameras, saying things are happening to her that aren’t. She’s just being melodramatic.”
Seven confirmed Tuesday they are screening a special report from Bogota this Sunday night.
“We don’t comment on arrangements with any person we interview on the program, except to say that Cassie will not receive payment of any kind,” a Seven spokeswoman said.
“Scott Broadbridge says he is motivated to prove his fiancé’s innocence. He is dedicated to supporting Cassie in Bogota and to ensuring that the legal case runs as smoothly as possible.”
It is understood Channel 9 are also planning to air their “Cocaine Cassie” exclusive this Sunday as well, with senior reporter Liam Bartlett flying in with their paid participants.
News Corp Australia previously reported multiple sources as stating that Sainsbury’s mum and sister had asked for $1 million for their side of the story.
A Nine spokesman said the network would not comment on the details of their interview, but it is understood they have covered flight and accommodation costs.
“Neither Lisa Evans nor Khala Sainsbury ever requested anywhere near that sort of figure,” a Nine publicist said.
Whether they will be able to get into the jail to interview her before then is still unclear.
Also unclear is whether Sainsbury will change her mind about talking to 60 Minutes, given she was so upset at the deal her family signed with them without her knowledge and said she only learned of it when told by News Corp Australia.
“My mum and sister haven’t told me anything of what they’re doing. All I knew is that they were coming,” Sainsbury said last Thursday local time.
“It’s my story. They need to get permission from me to sell my story.”
It is also understood high-profile lawyer Stephen Kenny is no longer representing Broadbridge.
The well-known lawyer has represented a range of high profile clients such as David Hicks.
Originally published as Visit by fiance and family to see Cassie Sainsbury in prison upsets fellow prisoners
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