Cassie discusses rift with family over TV bidding war

CASSIE Sainsbury has discussed the rift between her and her mother and sister, speaking to news.com.au from behind bars.

ACCUSED drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury has discussed the rift between her and her family as tensions mount over a TV bidding war for her story.

Speaking to news.com.au from behind bars in El Buen Pastor women’s prison in Bogota Colombia, the South Australian sounded frustrated when asked whether she was looking forward to a visit from her mother Lisa Evans and sister Khala Sainsbury.

“Yeah, I can see my family. We’re sorting out some stuff,” she said over the prison phone.

“Stuff between whatever’s been going on with the two stories.”

Ms Sainsbury is clearly angry at her mother and sister for signing up to a lucrative deal with Channel 9’s 60 Minutes for a tell-all interview, without her knowledge.

Meanwhile, her fiance, Scott Broadbridge has inked a deal with 60 Minutes’ main rival, Channel 7's current affairs show Sunday Night.

“It’s just typical family drama,” Ms Sainsbury said.

In a separate interview with News Corp on Thursday, Ms Sainsbury said: “My mum and sister haven’t told me anything of what they’re doing.

“They’re just going out and doing it on their own. That’s my problem.

“It’s my story. They need to get permission from me to sell my story.”

Cassandra Sainsbury pictured after her arrest last month. Picture: EPA

Ms Sainsbury was detained last month when she was allegedly found with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase at Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport last month.

Colombian authorities allegedly found the drugs stashed inside 18 headphone boxes.

She says she had no idea there were drugs in the packages, and told her Colombian lawyer that she was tricked by a man known as Angelo into buying what she thought were cheap headphones.

Her Colombian lawyer Orlando Herran said last week that Ms Sainsbury had been “psychologically affected” by her incarceration and was “permanently crying”.

However, Ms Sainsbury sounded like she was in better spirits when news.com.au spoke to her Saturday afternoon, Colombia time.

“I’m OK. Yeah, I’m all right. I’m dealing with it,” she said.

“I’ve made one friend.”

Ms Sainsbury explained that she has grown close to a Dutch woman who shared her section of the jail, known as Patio 5.

Their friendship provided some comfort because they could talk in English, while most of her other cellmates spoke Spanish.

Mr Broadbridge arrived in Bogota on Thursday night but is yet to gain access to the jail to see her.

“I’m trying to get a hold of him as well,” Ms Sainsbury told news.com.au.

Ms Sainsbury, pictured in 2015, is “dealing” with life in prison.

“I think it’s nothing to do with me. I think it’s something to do with the prison and the way they want to set up the visitation.”

Mr Broadbridge visited the jail gates on Friday afternoon but did not go inside.

Representatives of his approached the guards to negotiate access again on Saturday. However access was denied.

One of his advocates asked whether the Australian Embassy had been in touch with the jail, but the guards said they hadn’t heard from it.

Hundreds of others did gain access to the prison to see their loved ones on Saturday, which is the one day of the week set aside for men to visit their loved ones. Mr Broadbridge was not among the crowd.

Cassandra Sainsbury’s mother Lisa Evans and sister Khala Sainsbury pictured arriving at El Dorado international Airport in Bogota, Colombia with the 60 minutes crew. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Ms Sainsbury’s mother and sister may have better luck on Sunday, which is the day female family members are allowed inside the prison walls.

However, a regular visitor to the jail told news.com.au that long queues were expected for Mother’s Day.

Ms Sainsbury’s mother and sister visited a spot across the canal from the prison on Friday, which has the best view of Patio 5.

They were filmed by a crew from 60 Minutes as they waved towards her cell and yelled “Cassie, Cassie can you hear us?”, News Corp reported..

Ms Sainsbury is still awaiting a trial date.

Scott Broadbridge, the fiance of Ms Sainsbury is still waiting to see her. Picture: Greg Higgs