Aussie faces death penalty in Bali on drug charges (merged) (Updated 12/26/08)

Corby's grim wait as sickness stops trial
Sydney Morning Herald
April 7, 2005

Accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby today clutched her stomach and winced as she told an Indonesian court that she was too sick to continue her trial.

"I'm really sick," a tearful and pale-looking Corby told Bali's Denpasar District Court.

Corby was brought to court today as her plight was discussed at a meeting in Jakarta between her lawyers and Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison.

She vomited after being led stumbling through the throng of journalists to a holding cell.

Corby was then led to the court room, pausing outside to finger a cross hanging from a chain around her neck.

Adjourning the trial until April 14, head judge Linton Sirait advised Corby to take better care of herself. "Take care of your health, don't be stressed. If you're stressed you might get diarrhoea," he told her.

Relatives said Corby's health was noticeably weakening as the trial entered its final phase, with a verdict expected by mid-May.

Prosecutor IB Wiswantanu said he had been ready today to reveal what sentence would be sought for Corby, but would not disclose what punishment she faces if convicted of narcotics trafficking.

The 27-year-old former beauty student from the Gold Coast faces a maximum penalty of death by firing squad after being caught with 4.1kg of high-grade cannabis in her unlocked bodyboard bag at Bali airport last October.

Her sister Mercedes Corby said a doctor would visit Schapelle in prison to assess her condition, which had deteriorated significantly over the last two weeks.

"(It's) just everything. Stressed, sore stomach, diarrhoea, vomiting," Mercedes Corby said.

Her father Michael Corby, who suffers from terminal prostate cancer, said it was difficult to see his daughter looking so ill on his first visit to the court since she went on trial.

"She's trying hard, but it's right to the nitty-gritty now," he said. "The stress and the whole thing and the stomach cramps and the nerves. It's getting on top of her."

Amid signs that the Australian public is throwing its support behind Corby, Ellison met today with Corby's senior lawyers in Jakarta and promised to take up several issues with the Indonesian Attorney-General later today.

Ellison has pledged to fight to spare Corby's life if she is convicted, and to seek to repatriate her under existing transfer-of-prisoner agreements if she is sentenced to a jail term.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said he would monitor the case to ensure the court handed down a just and fair verdict.
Sirait said he was not surprised by his president's comments and did not feel under any pressure to treat Corby differently to any other person on trial.

"It's normal that the Prime Minister of Australia is concerned and giving attention to his citizens," he said. "The trial has already been fair."

Michael Corby expressed doubts that high-level talks between Australia and Indonesia would aid her defence.

He said the Australian government had been slow to respond to calls for help and the Indonesian investigation into the case had contained "muck-ups".

"(It) depends on what they call justice here, love.

"(It) looks a bit fairyland to me. Everything's reversed here. You're guilty until you're proven innocent."

His visit came as an anonymous email petition was distributed around Australia and overseas, calling on the Australian government to ensure that, innocent or guilty, Corby was returned to Australia and did not face the firing squad.

AAP

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It's interesting that they mention the email petition, as I remember it was circulating around here about a month ago and a few cynics claimed that it wouldn't do any good. Guess they were wrong.

[edit: fixed format and added link]
 
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Australia asks Indonesia to spare life of drug suspect
April 7, 2005

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia has appealed to Indonesia to spare the life of a 27-year-old Australian woman facing a possible death sentence if convicted of trying to smuggle marijuana into the resort island of Bali, officials said.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison said he had asked Indonesian Attorney-General Abdurrahman Saleh at a meeting in Jakarta Thursday not to seek the death penalty if Schapelle Corby is convicted.

"I indicated to the Indonesian attorney-general that Australia was opposed to the death penalty and that in the event of Schapelle Corby being found guilty that we would plead with the Indonesian government that the death penalty not be sought," Ellison told ABC radio.

"At this stage of the court proceedings I understand there is an avenue for the attorney-general in Indonesia to make representations to the prosecution in the preparation of their submission on sentencing," he said.

Ellison said he was trying to negotiate an agreement on prisoner transfers which would allow Corby to serve an eventual prison sentence in Australia instead of Bali.

"We will be having our officials visit Indonesia to work on this and progress it," he said.

"I'm very keen that it be put in place as soon as possible."

The 27-year-old Corby faces possible death by firing squad after being caught with 4.1 kilograms (nine pounds) of cannabis in her unlocked bodyboard bag at Bali's airport last October.

Corby has denied placing the drugs in her luggage.

Her legal team has produced a witness claiming Corby was unwittingly used as a courier by drug traffickers working with baggage handlers at airports in her home town of Gold Coast and Sydney.

There was little indication the Bali court was convinced by the claim.

The trial was adjourned on Thursday until April 14 after Corby said she was too sick to continue this week.

Corby's case has drawn intense media attention in Australia and coincides with a major warming relations between Indonesia and Australia after years of difficult ties.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on a visit to Australia this week, promised to personally monitor the case of Corby to ensure the verdict was fair.

"I will watch closely to make sure that justice is there," he said.

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Bitch about the law not about the chick. Who the fuck would goto a country with laws like that? I feel just as bad for all the people that died in Bali or all the people that are in prison for BS crimes than I do for her, just watch were you travel to.
 
Tarmac stunt strengthens Corby's case
By Kelly Ryan, Brisbane Courier-Mail
09apr05

A PRANK has sparked international outrage and again highlighted security concerns at Australia's airports.

A Qantas baggage handler was sacked last night for removing a costume camel's head from a passenger's bag to don himself on the tarmac.

The incident has been seized on by the legal team for accused drug trafficker Schapelle Corby facing the death sentence in Bali.

They say it backs claims that the cannabis she was caught carrying had been planted in her luggage by Australian baggage handlers.

And it has also left Qantas officials red-faced and apologetic as they try to convince Australia's flying public that airport ground staff can be trusted.

In the latest incident, passenger David Cox was shocked to see a baggage handler wearing the animal costume he had checked in only minutes earlier.

The marketing manager, waiting to board a flight to Melbourne, watched agog as the baggage handler crossed Sydney Airport tarmac several times with the large camel costume on his head.

"The little kid in the seat next to me said, 'There's a man wearing a moose head'," Mr Cox said yesterday.

"I thought 'No mate, that's not a moose head, its a camel head – and it's my camel head'."

The handler's union described the incident as a "goofy prank", a "typically Australian joke" that just got out of hand.

TWU spokesman Nimrod Nyols said the handler had been "goofing", recreating a Toyota television advertisement.

"He was doing the 'Oh, what a feeling, Oh, what a Toyota' thing," Mr Nyols said.

Closed circuit television recorded the handler removing the camel head from a bag identified as carrying an animal costume.

Mr Cox complained to Qantas staff and the costume was quickly returned to its bag.

Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon responded swiftly to the incident.

The baggage handler was initially stood down yesterday but later fired following an internal investigation.

"We are acutely aware of the heightened community concerns around security of baggage," Mr Dixon said.

"What has happened is completely unacceptable and is unacceptable to the vast majority of decent, hard-working Qantas employees."

Ron Bakir, bankrolling Corby's defence, said Wednesday's incident "corroborated Schapelle Corby's case".

"It proves without a doubt in the world that there are problems with airport security," Mr Bakir said.

"There are problems with our baggage handling, and it proves that bags do get tampered with."

Corby's lawyers have claimed Brisbane baggage handlers planted the drugs in her bodyboard bag for collection in Sydney.

Mr Dixon said the incident showed Qantas still had "some issues that need to be addressed on the behavioural front".

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Check-up finds Corby fit for court
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
April 19, 2005

The trial of the Australian accused of drug smuggling, Schapelle Corby, is set to resume in Bali on Thursday after a medical check-up gave her the all clear to appear in court.

Prosecutors will try for the third time to deliver their sentence request to the Denpasar District Court.

Corby's defence team says prosecutors will ask for a life sentence and a large fine, rather than the death penalty.

The last two scheduled hearings were cancelled when Corby fell ill.

Today she was escorted from jail to undergo a check-up at a local hospital.

Afterwards, a doctor told the ABC she was physically fit to return to court

In other developments in the case this week, Corby's financial backer, Queensland businessman Ron Bakir, accused prosecutors of asking the defence team to pay a bribe.

Indonesian authorities say legal action for defamation was now possible.

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Nervous Corby may take stand
The Border Mail
April 23, 2005

JAKARTA: Ms Schapelle Corby remained sedated in her prison cell yesterday as her lawyer questioned whether shell be mentally strong enough to take the stand in a final bid to win her freedom.

Meanwhile, Ms Corbys plight has attracted support from Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe, who said the sight of her tears on Australian newspaper front pages had broken his heart.

Prosecutors have asked a three-judge panel to convict Ms Corby, 27, and jail her for the rest of her life.

Next Thursday, it will be the turn of the defence to ask that she be acquitted.

Ms Corby might make her own a personal plea.

After that the judges will bring down their verdict, possibly next month.

Balinese lawyer Ms Lily Lubis said Ms Corby is trying to come to grips with the prosecutors demand for a life sentence.

“She thinks all of this is only some kind of play, some kind of drama,” Ms Lubis said after visiting her Gold Coast client in Denpasars Kerobokan Prison.

The lawyer described Ms Corby as a “nervous wreck” who can sleep only with the help of medication.

“Shes still using sedatives after the trial because shes kind of hysterical,” Ms Lubis said.

Ms Lubis said the defence team would ask the court to permit Ms Corby to make a statement during its summing up next week, but only if she was strong enough.

Ms Corby on Thursday broke down and said her life was over after prosecutor Mr Ida Bagus Wiswantanu argued in the Denpasar District Court that she should be found guilty of attempting to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali last year.

Mr Wiswantanu said the former beauty students actions threatened to make Bali look like a drug haven and could have destroyed the lives of thousands of young Balinese.

Ms Lubis said there was “strong evidence” to back Ms Corbys claim that she was the innocent stooge of a drug gang operating at Australian airports.

The defence claims that marijuana found in Ms Corbys luggage at Denpasar airport was put there after she had boarded a flight to Bali.

Meanwhile, Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe took Prime Minister Mr John Howard to task for not doing more to save Corby.

“The photographs of Schapelle Corby broke my heart,” he said.

“The first thing I thought this morning was, like, how can I get Johnny Howard on the phone and say Look, what are you gonna do to help her.”

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At least they probably won't shoot her now. But life in jail in indonesia means life not 21 years or what ever it is here in aus. I think the best she can hope for is a prisoner exchange program. Mabey we could exchange the 200+ indonesians that were caught illegally fishing in our waters for ms corby and those other nine that got caught with smack.
 
Shit no! Life is about 20-25 here I think...?


You can't get the kind of 200-odd year cumulative sentences like in the US either :\
 
yes life in aus is somewhere in the low 20's.
People have served two "life" sentances here before being released back to the community, still alive.
 
Australia's Corby in mercy plea
BBC News
April 28, 2005

An Australian beauty therapist accused of smuggling marijuana into the Indonesian resort of Bali has begged a court for mercy.

In her final defence plea, 27-year-old Schapelle Corby tearfully proclaimed her innocence, saying "I cannot admit to a crime I did not commit."

Ms Corby was arrested in October after 4.1 kg (9 pounds) of marijuana was found in her bags at Bali airport.

Under Indonesia's tough anti-drug laws, convicted traffickers can be executed.

But Ms Corby's case has attracted widespread public interest in Australia, and the Canberra government has urged Indonesian prosecutors not to ask for the death penalty.

In a written statement to judges at the district court in Bali's capital, Denpasar, on Thursday, Ms Corby said she was an innocent victim of Australian drug gangs.

"I say again that I have no knowledge of how the marijuana came to be inside my bag," she said.

She said she had already been punished enough for doing no more than failing to lock her bags.

"To judges, my life at the moment is in your hands, but I would prefer that my life was in your heart," she said.

Prosecutors have recommended that Ms Corby serve a life sentence, although the judges could still impose the death penalty if they convict her.

A verdict is expected by next month.

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Corby's defence falls short
By Sian Powell, Melbourne Herald Sun
April 30, 2005

THE chief judge in the Schapelle Corby case yesterday said the Gold Coast beauty student's defence team had not "done enough" to prove her innocence.

In an extraordinary interview with The Weekend Australian just weeks before he and two fellow judges hand down their verdict, Chief Judge Linton Sirait said: "From Corby's defence I haven't heard anything to prove she is innocent."

But Judge Sirait refused to say whether he believed Corby - accused of smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali in a bodyboard bag last October - was guilty, nor would he speculate on possible sentences if she is convicted.

Judge Sirait confirmed he had not understood Corby's desperate final plea of innocence on Thursday as it had not been translated in the court, but said it made no difference: "Not enough. He or she has to prove he or she is not guilty. Every inmate would say: 'I'm not guilty'. I'm still looking for something related to the law."

Judge Sirait also revealed he had never acquitted an accused drug offender in the estimated 500 such cases he had presided over in his 15 years on the bench. He, along with two other judges, will determine Ms Corby's guilt or innocence and the sentence that should be imposed.

Prosecutors have demanded she receive a life jail term if convicted, although the judges can still impose the death sentence if they see fit.

In her final emotional address to Bali District Court, Ms Corby, 27, pleaded for the judges to have mercy, saying her only crime was not locking her luggage.

Judge Sirait has heard mainly marijuana cases in his career, and is now regarded as one of the more experienced drugs judges in Indonesia. Last week he sentenced a Nigerian heroin trafficker to life because more than 1.1kg of heroin had been found in his bags.

Marijuana is considered a schedule-one drug in Indonesia, along with heroin, and at least one marijuana smuggler has been sentenced to death in the country. Bali's drugs squad chief, Bambang Sugiarto, said he had only heard of one drugs acquittal.

"But that was a long, long time ago," he said. "The quantity was very small. Nothing like that has happened since I've been positioned here."

A senior lawyer for Ms Corby, Erwin Siregar, said he had only heard of acquittals "maybe in the 80s". He nevertheless remained optimistic the judges would find Ms Corby innocent.

She will face court again next week, when prosecutors reply to the defence's summing up. In a 75-page address, the defence tried to counter all the prosecution's arguments, questioned police handling of the evidence, asked why the evidence had not been fingerprinted, and asked why Ms Corby was questioned at the airport without an adequate interpreter present.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Australia had sent a copy of its prisoner-transfer agreement with Thailand to Indonesia, as part of its bid for a similar deal with Jakarta.

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here's what you should do

Not appropriate commentary. Consider this a verbal warning. -Finder
 
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Drugs' snug fit led Aussie officers to suspect Corby
Martin Chulov and Sian Powell, The Australian
May 13, 2005

AUSTRALIAN police scepticism about Schapelle Corby's innocence is based on her failure to explain how a 4kg bag of cannabis detected in Bali fitted so snugly into the front pouch of her bodyboard bag and why she did not notice the extra weight.

Senior officers in three forces have privately said it was "implausible" the drugs had been randomly placed in the 27-year-old Gold Coast beauty student's luggage by baggage handlers waiting for an appropriate-sized bag.

One officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, questioned why Corby had not noticed that her bag, supposedly containing only a lightweight bodyboard and flippers, had become at least twice as heavy when she collected it from the baggage carousel at Denpasar airport before approaching the Customs check.

Ms Corby's Australian lawyer Robin Tampoe last night rejected claims the marijuana was an exact fit for a bodyboard bag, describing them as "absolute nonsense".

"It's a complete load of crap, it's completely insane," he said.

He said the defence team steadfastly maintained its position that the cannabis was put into the bag by a corrupt baggage handler.

Police have explored whether Ms Corby's luggage could have come into contact with allegedly corrupt baggage handlers on duty at Sydney airport on October 8, when she embarked on her ill-fated trip.

The Australian revealed yesterday that Ms Corby's flight coincided with the importation the same morning of a suitcase containing 9.99kg of cocaine that an allegedly corrupt baggage handler ensured would avoid Customs.

Ms Corby's Gold Coast-based financial backer, Ron Bakir, and Mr Tampoe yesterday called for Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty to stand down after he described as "flimsy" her defence of being an unwitting drug mule. Their concerns were echoed by Law Council of Australia president John North QC, who said Mr Keelty would have "run a grave risk of being found in contempt of court" if Ms Corby were being tried here.

Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon yesterday revealed that the baggage-handling area in Sydney had been under police surveillance for six months as part of the recent cocaine operation. It is not known whether the surveillance extended back to last October.

A last-ditch effort by Ms Corby's lawyers to tell judges of new developments in her case half-succeeded yesterday, when chief judge Linton Sirait refused to watch a compilation of Australian and Indonesian television programs, but agreed later to read translated transcripts.

Yet Judge Sirait said alleged drug-smuggling in Australian airports would not be relevant to a Balinese court, cruelling much of the defence team's final submission.

The Indonesian show featured Bali's drug squad chief questioning flaws in the prosecution case.

Judge Sirait adjourned the trial until May 27, when the three judges will hand down their verdict.

Ms Corby's defence lawyers did not attempt to submit any information about the alleged cocaine-smuggling in Australia, which came to light this week.

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Government letter to Corby judges might be too late
New Zealand Herald
16.05.05

CANBERRA - The Howard government's letter to a Bali court about drug trafficking at Australian airports might be too late to help save Schapelle Corby from jail.

Corby's defence team and the Law Council of Australia have praised the government for sending the letter, which will be delivered to the court today.

But the chief prosecutor in the case, Ida Bagus Wiswantanu, said the letter is too late.

"After the hearing is closed, it's impossible to present more evidence," he told ABC radio through an interpreter.

"If it were to be submitted now, it would have no value at all according to Indonesian law."

Mr Wiswantanu also said it appeared the Australian government was trying to influence the decision in the Corby case.

"I cannot say the Australian government is interfering, but surely whoever sent the letter will try to gain influence in the decision," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

The chief judge in the case, Linton Sirait, also said the letter would make no difference to the decision on Corby, who faces life in a Bali jail if found guilty.

Judge Sirait said he did not believe there had been any intervention, but told the newspaper: "We don't watch what happens in Australia. We just keep moving with what we are doing. We don't read Australian papers. We don't think it's important to follow developments in Australia."

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday revealed the government had agreed to a request from Corby's lawyers to explain to the Bali court new information involving baggage handlers who may have helped smuggle cocaine through Sydney airport.

Corby, 27, who is accused of smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali on October 8 last year, has begged Mr Howard to act in the interest of justice, saying she is innocent.

Corby's Australian lawyer Robin Tampoe said he was delighted the government's letter said alleged drug smugglers were at Sydney Airport the day Corby passed through on her way to Bali.

"We were very happy with the letter that we received from (Foreign Minister) Mr (Alexander) Downer's office, extremely happy with the contents of it," he told ABC radio.

"We asked for the letter on Thursday and I think by Friday evening we had it, so we're ecstatic with what Mr Howard has done for us."

The president of the Law Council of Australia, John North, also praised the government for taking the unusual step of writing such a letter.

"The Law Council is pleased that the Australian government is sending the letter to possibly assist an Australian citizen facing life imprisonment and it is to be hoped that it is not too late," he told ABC radio.

"It's fairly unusual (for the government to write such a letter) because circumstances were obviously meant to be kept secret until the alleged cocaine ring (at the airport) had been broken.

"But it is absolutely vital in Schapelle Corby's case that the government move quickly because her trial was nearly at an end."

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Corby may serve sentence at home
Herald Sun
20may05

ACCUSED drug smuggler Schapelle Corby could serve out her sentence in Brisbane if she is found guilty by an Indonesian court next week

But Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said today Ms Corby's sentence would not be any lighter at the jail, which is at Wacol, west of Brisbane.

"If she is found guilty, then Schapelle Corby can apply to serve her time in the place of origin, which is Queensland," Mr Beattie told Southern Cross Radio today.

"And yes we would accept her and yes it would most likely be the Brisbane Women's Prison."

A verdict in Ms Corby's case is expected to be handed down in Denpasar District Court next Friday. She faces life in jail if convicted of smuggling 4.1kg of cannabis into Bali last October.

She says the drugs were planted in her bags.

Indonesia has said it is willing to negotiate a general prisoner transfer deal with Canberra, with the likely model one already struck between Australia and Thailand.

If convicted and brought back to Australia, Ms Corby would not be able to appeal her sentence in Australian courts, Mr Beattie said.

"As I understand the agreement, it would require her to serve the sentence with the decision handed out in Indonesia, otherwise they wouldn't let her come home."

Any appeal would have to take place before she was repatriated to Australia and the process could take years, Mr Beattie said.

Mr Beattie also said he disapproved of having television cameras in the Bali courtroom, focusing in on Ms Corby's face as her sentence was read out.

"How would you feel if you were in that position yourself," Mr Beattie said.

"It would be dreadful."

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Australian guilty on drugs charge

BBC News Online 27/05/05

An Indonesian court has found Australian woman Schapelle Corby guilty of smuggling drugs into Bali and sentenced her to 20 years in jail.
Corby's family said she would appeal against the verdict, which could have seen her sentenced to death.

Corby, 27, said her luggage had been tampered with, after she was arrested last October with 4.1kg (9lbs) of marijuana in her bags at Bali airport.

Her case has stirred widespread public sympathy in Australia.

Corby fought back tears and there were screams from her supporters in court, as the verdict and sentence were announced.

"Judges are of the opinion that the accused imported marijuana," Judge Wayan Suastrawan said.

"She was arrested red-handed at the airport."

The beautician from Queensland had continually pleaded her innocence to the charges against her, claiming that baggage handlers in Australia put the drugs in her luggage as part of a smuggling operation that went wrong.

Her parents were in court to hear the verdict.

Her mother shouted "liar" when the judge gave his decision. Corby smiled weakly, and repeated: "It's OK, it's OK".

Australian concern

More than 100 Australian journalists had travelled to Bali to report on the case and the judges' two-and-a-half-hour summing up was carried live on Australian TV.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the government would supply lawyers to help her appeal.

Prior to the court ruling, Australian Prime Minister John Howard had called on people to accept the verdict, amid widespread public belief Corby was innocent.

He said that although everyone "feels for this girl", it was necessary to "trust the Indonesian justice system".

"We have to respect the justice system of other countries," he said.

Canberra had urged Indonesian prosecutors not to ask for the death penalty.

There have been calls for the government to press for her to serve her sentence back in Australia.

"The government is going to begin discussions formally with the Indonesians in the next 10 days about the prisoner transfer agreement," said Mr Downer.

Many Australians now say they would boycott Bali, a destination desperately in need of tourists after the disastrous impact of the October 2002 bombing.
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