A budgerigar is an Australian parrot that is a popular household pet and the Australians' swimwear is colloquially known as budgie smugglers. Defense lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the court accepted his argument that it was a trivial offense and that the nine, mostly dressed in suits in the court, were ignorant of the local culture and remorseful. He said one of them read out an apology to the court, admitting to an "error of judgment." "The court accepted my mitigation that this was a trivial offense and under extenuating circumstances because they misunderstood the local culture. The nine, mostly Sydney University graduates in their 20s, left the court without speaking to reporters.

Source: ABC News October 06, 2016 06:40 UTC