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The revelation of the outcomes was kept confidential, yet the families of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, two 19-year-old Australians who passed away, were informed of the verdict through other victims affected by the poisoning, rather than the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The department issued an “unreserved apology” to the families for not adequately communicating the developments of the proceedings.
In a statement released this morning, the department emphasized, “We are dedicated to providing exemplary consular service, ensuring that the interests of our clients and their families are our top priority. Regrettably, we did not meet our standards in this instance.”
“Australian officials remain committed to advocating for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to secure justice for Holly and Bianca,” the statement continued.
Previously, the fathers of Bowles and Jones voiced their dissatisfaction with being left uninformed as the court proceedings advanced in secrecy.
“As citizens of this country we expect the government to look after their people and get justice for their citizens when they go travelling,” Mr Jones told 9news yesterday.
“We can’t get into the country. There’s nothing more we can do. We need the government to do something because we are out of options,” Mr Bowles added.
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