Corby Diwawancara Ekslusif, Dikecam Presenter Australia
David Koch Slams Schapelle Corby`s TV Deal
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
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DAVID Koch, presenter Australia di media Seven Network, mengecam bos di medianya yang dikabarkan telah menyetujui pembayaran senilai dua juta dollar Australia untuk mendapat kesempatan interview ekslusif dengan terpidana kasus marijuana yang dibebaskan bersyarat, Schapelle Corby. Jika dikonversi ke rupiah, pembayaran Corby dapat mencapai Rp21,9 miliar.
Namun kemarahan Koch bisa terkesan prematur, setelah rekannya Mike Willesee mengabaikan informasi itu dan menyebut "adalah cara konyol" bahwa Seven akan membayar sangat banyak untuk berbicara dengan terpidana penyelundup narkoba itu.
"Saya tidak tahu angka pastinya, namun saya tahu (angka) itu gila," kata Mike Willesee, seperti dilansir Yahoo News.
Setiap orang berhak atas pendapat mereka, tapi yang saya ketahui jumlah angka yang terpublikasikan adalah konyol. Itu salah," ujarnya.
Willesee kepada pers di Bali, Selasa, mengatakan dia tidak berekspetasi agar interview dilaksanakan saat ini. Dia juga mengaku belum melihat Corby, meski dia tinggal di villa mewah yang sama.
"Itu sesuatu hal yang belum pasti," kata dia di luar komplek resor Sentosa Seminyak.
"Terdapat sedikit pertimbangan, namun itu masih belum akan terjadi," ujarnya.
Dia juga mengatakan tidak mengetahui siapa anggota keluarga Corby yang tinggal di villa itu.
Pada Senin kemarin, dia mengaku melihat saudara perempuan Corby, Mercedes, namun Selasa ini dia tidak mengetahui apakah Mercedes masih berada di villa itu.
Dia mengatakan tidak mengetahui kapan dan bagaiamana interview akan dilangsungkan.
"Yang saya pahami, Corby perlu waktu untuk rileks," ujarnya.
Koch mengatakan Seven seharusnya tidak berbicara dengan Corby untuk menghindari publikasi sensasional atas terpidana pemilik marijuana itu.
"Saya menganjurkan kita, sebagai jaringan media, sebaiknya tidak melakukan apa apa dengan Corby," kata persenter acara Sunrise ini dalam acara yang ditayangkan Selasa.
"(Saya) sangat tidak setuju untuk membayar terpidana narkoba hingga dua juta dollar Australia," ujarnya.
Juru Bicara Network Seven enggan menanggapi informasi ini.
Bendahara Federal Joe Hockey melalui akun Twitternya mengapresiasi sikap Koch.
"Hanya akan menyebarkan pesan yang keliru tentang narkoba, dengan membayar seorang terpidana narkoba untuk mengetahui kisah terpidana itu," kata Hockey.
SEVEN Network presenter, David Koch has slammed his employer over reports it agreed to pay Schapelle Corby $2 million for an exclusive interview.
But his anger may be premature, with colleague Mike Willesee dismissing as "way silly" any suggestion that Seven would pay so much to talk to the convicted drug smuggler.
"I don´t know what the figure is but I know that that´s crazy," Mr Willesee said.
"It´s not up there at all.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but all I know is the published figures are way silly. They´re false."
Mr Willesee told reporters in Bali on Tuesday that he does not expect any interview to take place for a while, adding that he has not even seen Corby despite staying in the same luxury resort.
"It´s not a sure thing and it´s not a close thing," he said outside the Sentosa Seminyak complex.
"There are a few considerations, but it´s not going to happen yet."
Mr Willesee said he didn´t know which family members were staying in Corby´s villa.
He said Corby´s sister Mercedes was there on Monday but he didn´t know if she was still there a day later.
"I don´t know who´s staying there, I really don´t, I haven´t been in there," he said.
He said he did not know when or how any interview would happen.
"As I understand it, Schapelle needs some time to chill out," he said.
Mr Koch had said Seven should not speak with Corby to avoid sensationalising the drug smuggler.
"I reckon we should have nothing to do with her as a network," the Sunrise presenter said during Tuesday´s show.
"Totally disagree with paying a convicted drug smuggler $2 million."
A spokeswoman for Network Seven said they had no comment on the matter.
Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey weighed into the issue on Twitter to congratulate Mr Koch on his stance.
"It sends all the wrong messages on drugs for a convicted trafficker to be paid for her story," Mr Hockey said.
