Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 2004
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2004 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Author: Matthew Moore, Herald Correspondent in Jakarta
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1454/a06.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1440/a02.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

DOWNER OFFERS HELP IN BALI CANNABIS CASE

The Australian Government has agreed to help the jailed Queensland student 
Schapelle Corby get evidence about the origins of 4.1 kilograms of cannabis 
found in her luggage at Denpasar airport.

The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, met Corby's legal advisers in 
Adelaide yesterday and agreed to ask the Indonesian Government to undertake 
the tests that may reveal where the large plastic bag was made and where 
its contents were grown.

"We would like to know where this cannabis came from and where the bag came 
from," a spokesman for Mr Downer said after the meeting. Mr Downer's office 
will make the request to the Indonesian authorities through the embassy in 
Jakarta.

The move might result in the Australian Federal Police becoming involved in 
the case. Mr Downer's spokesman said that if Indonesian police did not have 
the expertise to undertake the analysis to get the information Corby's 
lawyers wanted, Australian experts could provide it.

"If they were to ask us [for assistance] through the AFP, then that's 
something we would be happy to help out with," he said.
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