PROTEST AT TRIAL OF AUSTRALIAN TIMBER IMPORTER
Sydney based rainforest timber importer, Peter Bazos, was found
guilty last month of evading $290 000 of duty by the Sydney
District Court. Yet he is still importing rare rainforest timbers
for his kitchen business.
The Judge found that Bazos defrauded Australian customs and
Australian taxpayers out of duty on tropical timber imports for
many years, he consistently bribed timber companies in Malaysia
and Indonesia and tried to write the cost of these bribes off
against his tax. In addition to this he helped destroy some of the
world's most precious rainforests and the people living in them
as part of the voracious Asian tropical timber industry.
As part of his defence, Bazos pleaded for lenience on the grounds
that these practises are commonplace throughout the timber
importing industry in Australia.
The final sentence against Bazos is being handed down on Mon 19th.
Please join the protest to draw attention to this case.
WHERE Sydney District Court, Downing Centre cnr Elizabeth
and Liverpool Streets, City. WHEN 9.30am Monday 19
August 1991 CONTACT Rainforest Information Centre (Paul
Chatterton) 02 281 8099 Recorded info line: 00 55 62 009
* All uses of tropical timbers can be replaced with plantation
grown alternatives *