Pubdate: Mon, 28 Mar 2005
Source: Courier-Mail, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 News Limited
Contact:  http://www.thecouriermail.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/98
Author: Cindy Wockner and Jason Frenkel

CORBY'S 'LAST CHANCE' ARRIVES IN BALI

Victorian prisoner John Patrick Ford -- the man with the best chance of 
helping Schapelle Corby beat deadly drug smuggling charges -- arrived in 
Bali yesterday amid tight security.

The handcuffed 40-year-old was met by Bali's drug squad chief 
Lieutenant-Colonel Bam Bang Sugiarto and six drug squad officers.

He was taken in a prison truck to the jail at Denpasar police headquarters 
where he will be held until he takes the stand tomorrow to give evidence in 
the Gold Coast woman's trial.

Corby could face the death penalty if convicted.

Ford is on remand from a Victorian jail where he is facing charges of rape, 
aggravated burglary, threat to kill, unlawful imprisonment and assault.

He refused to answer questions as to why he felt compelled to give evidence.

Gold Coast mobile phone entrepreneur Ron Bakir, who is bankrolling Corby's 
defence, said he and the legal team were expecting to brief the prisoner.

"We will just tell him about the process of the court, about where to sit 
and what will happen on Tuesday," Mr Bakir said yesterday.

He added it was "magic news" that Ford had finally arrived in Bali and was 
ready to testify.

Mr Bakir and Corby's lawyers described the evidence he will give to the 
court as critical to her defence and her chances of acquittal.

They claim he will testify about the true owners of the 4.1kg of marijuana 
found in her boogie board bag.

Ford is believed to have signed an affidavit naming three people who 
allegedly traffic drugs through Australian airports. He is expected to 
claim he overheard a conversation between two traffickers who had said some 
drugs had been put in the wrong bag or on the wrong flight.

"His statements are pretty solid statements. He makes a lot of allegations 
and says a lot of things about a lot of people and they need to be heard," 
Mr Bakir said.

Australian Attorney-General Philip Ruddock yesterday defended the Federal 
Government's position in the case and criticised Corby's legal team for 
being tardy in its witness handling.

"Only one day before the proceedings, to be initiating a request (for 
Ford's clearance to give evidence), suggests to me some inactivity," he said.

Mr Ruddock warned Corby's supporters in Australia not to pin all their 
hopes on Ford's evidence.

Ford's appearance in the trial could just as easily work against Corby, as 
had been suggested by the trial judge, Mr Ruddock said.

Ford's former wife Rita said yesterday she was proud of him for offering 
his testimony, adding there was no benefit for him.

Corby's defence team suffered a setback when her Gold Coast lawyer Robin 
Tampoe suffered an electric shock on Friday night.

The cord of a microphone he was using to address his Kuta team and 
supporters fell in water, giving him a potentially deadly shock.

He was unconscious before Corby's older sister Mercedes reportedly 
resuscitated him.

"We almost lost him," Mr Bakir said.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager