This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37570963
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Australian 'Budgie Nine' F1 strippers freed by Malaysia court | Australian 'Budgie Nine' F1 strippers freed by Malaysia court |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nine Australians arrested for stripping off at the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix have walked free from a court. | |
| The group, branded the "Budgie Nine", were charged with public nuisance, which carries a fine but no jail time. | The group, branded the "Budgie Nine", were charged with public nuisance, which carries a fine but no jail time. |
| The men were detained after posing in swimwear decorated with the Malaysian flag to celebrate Australian Daniel Ricciardo's win in Sunday's race. | The men were detained after posing in swimwear decorated with the Malaysian flag to celebrate Australian Daniel Ricciardo's win in Sunday's race. |
| In a letter read out in court, they apologised and expressed their "deepest regret". | |
| They said the incident was "purely an error of judgement" on their behalf. | They said the incident was "purely an error of judgement" on their behalf. |
| Among the men was Jack Walker, an aide to Australian Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne. | |
| His father John Walker addressed the media outside the court after the hearing, saying that his son and the other eight were "good boys". | |
| One of the men, Thomas Whitworth, fainted during the proceedings and had to be given water. | One of the men, Thomas Whitworth, fainted during the proceedings and had to be given water. |
| 'Briefs won't be made again' | |
| Malaysia has strict rules on any display of public indecency and foreign offenders are typically issued a fine before being deported. | Malaysia has strict rules on any display of public indecency and foreign offenders are typically issued a fine before being deported. |
| Last year four foreign tourists were jailed for taking naked photographs at the peak of Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia. | |
| The maximum fine for public nuisance is RM400 (£76; $96). It was not immediately clear what the men will have to pay. | |
| Their lawyer, Shafie Abdullah, had argued that his clients were part-time lifeguards, so stripping down came quite naturally to them. | Their lawyer, Shafie Abdullah, had argued that his clients were part-time lifeguards, so stripping down came quite naturally to them. |
| A spokesperson from Budgy Smuggler, the swimwear company behind the "bludgies", said that the swimwear emblazoned with the Malaysian flag would not be produced again. | |
| "We've produced for about 50 countries around the world and this is the first time it's caused an international incident," Jarrod Allen, head of research and development, told the BBC. | |
| "We'd never set out to intentionally disrespect." |