Pubdate: Sat, 28 May 2005
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: John Aglionby
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Corby (Schapelle Corby)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

20-YEAR SENTENCE FOR TOURIST IN DRUG CASE THAT GRIPPED AUSTRALIA

An Australian tourist was sentenced to 20 years in jail yesterday for 
attempting to smuggle more than 4kg (9lb) of marijuana into the Indonesian 
holiday island of Bali, concluding a trial that has gripped her country.

Schapelle Corby, 27, a trainee beautician from Brisbane, was also fined 
100m rupiah (#5,800), although the end of the verdict was barely heard as 
the sweltering courtroom, crowded with family, friends, holidaymakers and 
an army of Australian journalists, descended into pandemonium.

Loud boos drowned out the cheers of a few anti-drug campaigners. Corby's 
mother, Rosleigh, stood up and shouted at the three judges: "Liar, liar. 
Honey, we are going to take you home."

Corby, who fainted once during the trial and has had to be treated for 
stress, cried briefly but remained relatively calm, although clearly 
stunned by the verdict. She mouthed the number "20" in Indonesian several 
times and then turned and told her mother: "Mum, it's OK, it's OK."

Her plight has galvanised Australia into an unprecedented outpouring of 
public sympathy for an alleged drug smuggler after defence lawyers claimed 
she was an unwitting victim of gangs who employ airport baggage handlers to 
stuff drugs into luggage.

It had been maintained that the drugs found in her unlocked surfboard bag 
were planted. The claim appeared to gain weight when it emerged that 
baggage handlers at Sydney airport had been involved in a drug smuggling 
ring that had been operating the day Corby flew to Indonesia.

Scores of people flocked to her defence after learning she faced the death 
penalty.

A former mobile phone businessman, Ron Bakir, agreed to finance her 
defence, several websites were set up to campaign for her freedom, a lawyer 
regularly flew to Bali to help and the case has dominated radio chat shows.

The vast majority of callers have been Corby supporters. One newspaper 
survey said 90% of Australians thought she was innocent. They included the 
film star Russell Crowe, who said the government should be doing more to 
secure Corby's release.

Corby was arrested last October when customs officers at Bali airport 
discovered the marijuana in her bag as she arrived to visit her sister, 
Mercedes Blake. The officials testified that Corby had refused to open the 
bag and then had tried to prevent them doing so.

The former student, who gave up her studies to help care for her sick 
father, vehemently pleaded her innocence.

Australia's media soon latched on to the case, with analysts pointing out 
that the clear plastic bag the drugs were in had not been fingerprinted and 
that her surfboard bag had not been weighed after being seized.

The country's government also intervened. It provided Corby with legal aid 
and allowed a prisoner, John Ford, to go to Bali to tell the court he had 
overheard two people in jail talking about the case and admitting they knew 
who put the drugs in the bag. Legal experts dismissed his evidence as 
hearsay upon hearsay, particularly as he could not name any of the people 
involved.

Canberra is now lobbying for a one-off deal to allow Corby to serve her 
sentence in Australia. Authorities in Indonesia, where the case has 
generated little interest, have reacted coolly to the suggestion.

Both Corby's lawyers and the prosecution said they would appeal. The state 
had demanded a life sentence; the defence has already prepared its appeal 
against the conviction.

Two QCs from Perth have volunteered to help with the appeal.

Some commentators have remarked that it is curious that Corby has won so 
much sympathy, while three other Australians who are on death row for drug 
offences in Singapore and Vietnam have won so little. The three are male 
and of Vietnamese origin.

During the trial, Jakarta requested additional security at its diplomatic 
missions after two bullets were sent to its Perth consulate with a note 
that there would be shooting if Corby was convicted.

Yesterday, anger boiled over after the hearing outside the courtroom as 
relatives and friends read out statements.

"I can't believe they didn't take any of our witnesses into account," Ms 
Blake screamed. "There's been no justice."

A family friend, Glen Jeffers, linked the case to the Boxing Day tsunami 
and the deaths of nine Australian servicemen in the relief operation.

An Australian boycott of Bali as a tourist destination has been called for.

Corby won support from Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, whose conviction in 
1982 for murdering her baby daughter was quashed in 1986, after her claim 
that a dingo had taken the infant was vindicated.

"I know what it feels like and how hard it is to keep your courage up under 
the circumstances," she said.

Australian consular staff visited Corby in jail yesterday afternoon. The 
Australian embassy said that she was "holding up well and remarkably 
positive given the emotional circumstances".
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom