NEWS: The Age 17 Mar 05: Evidence clears drug girl: Lawyers

Evidence clears drug girl: lawyers
Justin Norrie, Phil Cornford
March 17, 2005

Accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby was the victim of "Australian drug trafficking" and there is new evidence to clear her of the charges, her lawyers said last night.

It is believed the lawyers are pinning their hopes on a statement from a prisoner in a Victorian jail purporting to clear Corby's name.

The 27-year-old Gold Coast beauty therapy student faces the death penalty if found guilty of the crime in a Bali court.

But Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir, who has come to the aid of Corby, said a man had come forward signing an affidavit naming three baggage handlers responsible for planting the drugs.

"The drugs were put into her bag without her knowledge, were supposed to be pulled out in Sydney and they were missed," he said.

Instead, the 4.1 kilograms of cannabis travelled on to Bali, where it was discovered in Corby's bodyboard bag at Denpasar Airport last October.

Mr Bakir said the affidavit had been sent to the Australian Federal Police and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer yesterday.

He said the new evidence would confirm the existence of an Australian drug trafficking network operating within airports.

"A man whom we are not in a position to name has come forward and offered information by way of a sworn statement to the effect that he is aware of persons involved in domestic drug trafficking between Brisbane and Sydney," he said.

"Moreover, he is aware that these same persons, whom he has named, were responsible for planting 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Schapelle Corby's Boogie board bag unbeknownst to her.

"The figurehead of this domestic drug trafficking ring is currently incarcerated for drug matters."

Speaking on behalf of Corby's legal team, Mr Bakir said he had obtained a statement that cleared her of all charges.

It is believed the statement is from a prisoner in jail in Victoria who says he overheard a conversation between two drug traffickers. He claims the traffickers said that "someone f---ed up" and that the drugs had been put in either the wrong bag or on the wrong flight. The drugs were supposed to have been picked up by an airport or airline employee in Sydney.

Mr Bakir said that over the past two or three months the source and associates had been trying to make contact with federal police, to no avail, and had telephone recordings to prove their attempts.

A spokeswoman for the federal police last night denied anyone had tried to contact the organisation with information exonerating Corby.

Full: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/03/16/1110913665902.html

SMH version: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/03/16/1110913667652.html?from=top5

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He said the new evidence would confirm the existence of an Australian drug trafficking network operating within airports.

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AFP crushes hopes on Corby evidence
By Roberta Mancuso, Nikki Todd and Marian Carroll in Denpasar
17mar05

FRESH evidence which lawyers claim may clear Schapelle Corby of drug smuggling charges in Bali was described by Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty today as "hearsay" with no direct link to her case.

Evidence emerged yesterday that the 27-year-old Gold Coast beauty therapy student was unknowingly used as a courier by organised interstate drug smugglers, after a man came forward and signed an affidavit naming three baggage handlers as those who had planted the drugs.

Ms Corby faces the death penalty under Indonesian laws after authorities found 4.1kg of cannabis in her boogie board bag at Bali's Denpasar Airport last October.

Meanwhile Ms Corby today clutched her sister's hand and said "Oh my God" when told of the evidence.

She was told only this morning about a crucial affidavit, obtained by her Australian lawyers and unveiled yesterday, implicating others in her case.

She learned of the statement today as she waited in a holding cell at the Denpasar District Court ahead of her next trial appearance.

Ms Corby looked delighted but said little as her sister Mercedes reached through the bars and, amid tears, broke the news.

Her lawyers yesterday revealed an unidentified man had come forward and signed a statement naming three baggage handlers he says planted the drugs in Ms Corby's unlocked boogie board bag.

Chief lawyer Lely Sri Rahaya Lubis said the three baggage handlers had since been jailed in Australia, while the man who made the statement was also in prison.

She said she would request a one-week adjournment today and would present the affidavit to the court's three judges next week.

"I told her that the people who put the marijuana in her bag are already arrested in Australia (for other crimes)," Ms Lely said.

"Now the police are still doing their investigations to bring the necessary things to help her get out of jail.

"She is happy with that and hopes it will come through."

But Ms Lely admitted it would be difficult to bring the man to Bali to testify, as he was a prisoner in Australia.

"That now depends on the Australian authorities," she said.

Mr Keelty said the AFP was interviewing the man, whom he said was a prisoner, but his statement had contained no direct evidence to Ms Corby's case.

"It does mention Corby, but only in the sense that the prisoner made the conclusion that it was connected to the Corby case and overheard other prisoners talking about the Corby case," Mr Keelty said.

"It's at best hearsay evidence."

Mr Keelty also hit out at the decision by supporters of Ms Corby to publicise what he said were "spurious allegations", saying it could be counter productive.

The less said about the publicly, the better, he said, adding: "To actually parade all these spurious allegations ... in the Australian media can be doing Schapelle Corby no good whatsoever."

Lawyers for Ms Corby have claimed the drugs were planted on the student as a part of a smuggling operation between Brisbane and Sydney airports.

The union representing airport baggage handlers, the Transport Workers Union, has called for an urgent investigation into the claims.

Mr Keelty said it was highly unusual that drugs which were meant to be transported interstate would end up overseas.

But Corby supporters, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir, who is financing her legal team, and Indonesian lawyer Vasu Rasiah rejected Mr Keelty's comments the statement lacked credibility.

Mr Bakir said the Australian Government had a duty to investigate the claims.

"Mr Keelty can say say whatever he likes, the fact of the matter is there is a girl in jail who could be executed," he said at a news conference in Brisbane.

"They need to take this matter very, very seriously. At this stage, the Australian Government has done nothing to ensure her safety.

"It is important for the Australian Government and the AFP to investigate this matter."

Mr Rasiah said the AFP had ignored repeated requests to investigate aspects of the case that occurred inside Australia, despite the Bali court bending over backwards to allow such evidence to be heard.

"The judges ... have gone an extra mile to open doors so that they can release the girl, but Australia has gone 10 miles behind to avoid doing that," Mr Rasiah said.

"I can't understand that."

Mr Rasiah further appealed for Australians to put pressure on Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to act on the matter.

Mr Keelty said it was not the role of the AFP to provide support to lawyers defending jailed Australians across the world.

From: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12574907^661,00.html

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"It does mention Corby, but only in the sense that the prisoner made the conclusion that it was connected to the Corby case and overheard other prisoners talking about the Corby case," Mr Keelty said.

"It's at best hearsay evidence."

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Even if she is guilty, AFP owes her one, she was taking drugs OUT of the country after all

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