Lost bracelet

On Dec. 16, 2000 we departed to Australia on flight QF 42 at 21:45 p.m. We were the last passengers. My husband rushed to pay the departure tax. I took my daughter, aged four and a half years, to the free fiscal department at about 21:15 p.m.

Unfortunately I forgot to bring a photocopy of her passport, so I placed my full trust in the officers who worked there and left my daughter for about five minutes to see my husband at another counter to enquire whether he possessed a photocopy of her. Nobody else came, it was all quiet and I kept looking back at my daughter as I was worried that she may fall from the counter (she was standing on the counter).

Unfortunately we didn't have a photocopy, so I told the officer in charge. He was very friendly and helpful, and he told me it was OK this time. Anyway, I thanked him and asked my daughter to leave quickly. She didn't want to go, and tried to indicate something, but unfortunately she didn't say anything. I got angry as we were running late, grabbed her and rushed to the boarding area. We went straight to the plane, and as soon as we sat down, my daughter told me that: "the person who was sitting down, writing and talking to mommy took off my gold bracelet and kept it there". I was shocked and noticed that the bracelet was not on her hand anymore. I told my husband and he quickly reported the incident to the person in charge on the plane.

We reported it as soon as we arrived at Brisbane Airport. When we returned on Dec. 29, 2000, I reported the matter again to the Security Department at the Airport, but I didn't make a police report. I went to see the person but he was not on duty. On Dec. 30, 2000 we came back to the airport to meet the person who served me. He told me it could be someone else as they have a lot of visitors who stay inside the room. I remembered that on the first time I came there were only three people serving and on my return to pick up my daughter there were still only three people there at the counter. The total persons in the room on Dec. 16, 2000 were about five to six only, two persons were sitting down serving and one was standing behind the person who served me, the rest were at the back of the room.

Whoever sat there during my five minutes absence took my daughter's gold bracelet? Nobody knows, only God knows and I believe one of the officers will tell the truth. My daughter vividly remembers the incident. On our return visit there, she pointed to the chair and the place where it happened. Luckily, at that time one of the supervisors was there and remembered my daughter's comments. We hope that he can help us find the bracelet.

The bracelet is a special gift from her grandmother who has passed away, her last will. My daughter knows exactly how to take care of it. Since the person told her that he would like to borrow it she assumed she would get it back and so allowed him to take it off.

We would appreciate it if anyone could help us clear the bad image of the Free Fiscal Airport Service. And we believe they will cooperate and work together with us to find out who was sitting there during my five minute absence.

SONYA IG WATSON

Jakarta