Return to Paradise
...s Lewis. The Malaysian Chief Justice justifies this punishment a clemency hearing toward the end of the movie by saying Americans do not comprehend the unforgiving nature of the law of Malaysia’s drug laws because of America’s leniency on drugs has caused tremendous carnage to our society. The only mistake with this is the Chief Justice would not head this particular hearing. Beth, Lewis’ lawyer has found a way to avoid the sentence sent down by the court, she has conjured an unwritten deal with the Attorney General of Malaysia. This is possible due to the power of the Attorney General, but the agreement is unwritten so it is classified not as a plea bargain but as an oral agreement to suggest clemency. If Tony and Sheriff return to Malaysia, Lewis’ life will be spared. If both Tony and Sheriff return, each must serve three years in prison. If only one returns, he must serve six years. This agreement might have been difficult to hold up considering the weight the sentence carries and may be questionable. In Beth’s dealings with Tony and Sheriff she winds up getting sexually involved with Sheriff. This is a matter of ethics in the legal system. Beth is representing a client sentenced to death and trying to persuade non-clients to return to Malaysia. The relationship in which Beth and Sheriff were involved was presumed to be professional and sexual relations are not considered to be so, even if consensual. Sexual relations could adversely affect the lawyer’s ability to represent the client and influence legal decisions. On the other hand Sheriff is not Beth’s client and the affair could benefit her actual client, Lewis, by persuading Sheriff to return to Malaysia thus rendering the affair a legally or maybe even ethically strategic tactic. Beth obviously has met and surpassed the standard practice in representing her client. Personal responsibility is also an issue; do Tony and Sheriff have a moral obligation to return to Malaysia to serve a prison sentence? This question in not a general on and can be asked individual person-to-person basis. Assuming the attorney General stays true to the original agreement the sentence will be served in a third-world prison. The lives of Sheriff and Tony will be altered forever. It is a hard question to answer, but it is the ultimate form of personal sacrifice and duty to another human being. I was also surprised at the portrayal of the Malaysian culture. I got the impression that their culture was somewhat tyrannical and driven by emotion rather than legal p...