Cassandra Sainsbury’s fiancé has revealed that the accused drug smuggler was “lured” into danger by a group of fellow Australians.
Scott Broadbridge, 23, who makes the explosive claims in an upcoming interview with Channel 7’s Sunday Night, added that he’s seen payments from a “mystery man” behind the cocaine deal.
He also told reporter Denham Hitchcock that he was “surprised” to learn that Cassie had flown to Colombia.
Cassie, 22, was discovered with nearly six kilograms of cocaine packed into her suitcase as she tried to fly home to Australia on April 11 from El Dorado International Airport.
She alleges an unknown male duped her into smuggling the nearly six kilograms of drugs, under the belief the package contained headphones for her bridal party.
Colonel Rodrigo Soler, anti-narcotics chief at Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport where Cassie was arrested last month, previously explained that accused drug smugglers commonly deny any knowledge of the crime.
“This is what 90 per cent of people who are caught for this kind of crime say,” Colonel Soler told News Corp via a translator. “They say that they were set up, they were trapped, they were cheated, they didn’t know about (the drugs).
“The majority also end up accepting responsibility (for the crime) because they say they have economic problems, family problems, they have no job.”
Cassie is pictured next to her luggage where nearly six kilograms of cocaine were discovered. Image via 7 News.
Pictured are the 18 bags of cocaine found concealed within headphones in Cassie’s luggage. Image via 7 News.
He added that drug mules were often convinced to take part in the crime under the guise that staff and police at the airport were paid off at each side of the journey.
“The owner of the drug who convinces the people to smuggle the drugs, he says everything is fixed up. Everything in the airport is fixed. Everything is easy,” he said.
“Just be quiet; everything has been arranged, both here (in Bogota) and there (at the final destination).”
After more than a month behind bars at the El Buen Pastor prison in Bogota, Cassie has been accused of “pulling puppy eyes for the cameras” by a fellow inmate.
“Cassie is causing problems,” the prisoner explained to News Corp.
“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 anymore and she’s saying those things because she wants attention.”
The Australian-native was recently photographed smiling alongside a fellow prisoner. Image via 9 News.
“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.”
The prisoner also said Cassie will be “treated differently” now she’s “pulled favours” and been allowed visitors on non-visitor day, but she did not elaborate on what being “treated differently” will entail.
