Pubdate: Sun, 29 May 2005
Source: Sunday Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/letters/letters.html
Website: http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/438
Author: John Flint

WA SILKS ASKED TO HELP

PERTH silks Tom Percy and Mark Trowell have been contacted by Schapelle
Corby's family to aid her appeal.

Mr Percy QC was approached by Corby's cousin Melissa Younger after Friday's
verdict.

The Sunday Times can exclusively reveal that after her sentencing,
Australian consular officials visited Corby in her cell and urged her to
take up the offer of assistance from the respected lawyers, who were asked
to help by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock.

"We have still had no contact from any lawyer representing Schapelle Corby,
but I have been contacted by her family," Mr Percy said yesterday in Bali.

The Perth lawyers yesterday dispelled another myth in the Corby case, saying
Australian taxpayers met most of Ms Corby's defence costs, not Gold Coast
businessman Ron Bakir.

Mr Percy said he was leaving Bali late today but hoped to see the family
before he left.

He said the Corby case would present a real challenge.

"I didn't put my hand up for this. I was asked (by the Government) and so
was Mark (Trowell)," he said.

He said he has had no contact from the Queensland law firm representing Ms
Corby - Hoolihan's Lawyers in Surfers Paradise - which snubbed their offers
to help months ago.

Mr Trowell QC was nominated by Mr Ruddock and Justice Minister Chris Ellison
because of his excellent contacts within the Indonesian legal system,
including the country's former attorney-general.

"I was an observer for the Australian Bar Association at the appeal of
(former Malaysian deputy prime minister) Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia. That's
how I know the former attorney-general in Indonesia," Mr Trowell said
yesterday.

"Just before Easter there was a conference of an organisation called Law
Asia. Chris Ellison, who is an ex-Perth criminal lawyer, suggested to Mr
Ruddock that he approach me to ask if we could offer assistance to Schapelle
Corby's legal team. Both of them were concerned about her welfare, but were
limited in what they could do.

"I suggested to Ruddock that the best way to approach this was for his staff
to contact Hoolihan's to ask if they would welcome a call offering
assistance."

Mr Trowell said Mr Ruddock's chief-of-staff rang Hoolihan's, which accepted
the offer, but failed to answer his calls or reply to messages he left.

"Robin Tampoe (of Hoolihan's) said on radio (Saturday) that no contact had
been made, but that is inconsistent with what he told a newspaper," Mr
Trowell said.

"Another thing I have found curious about Tampoe's comments on radio, is
there was some suggestion that they had had no assistance (from the
Government). But the Indonesian lawyers representing Schapelle Corby have
been funded by the Australian Attorney-General's Department. It runs into
tens of thousands of dollars.

"I was contacted by (Foreign Minister) Alexander Downer's chief-of-staff
this week. He said: `You were quite happy to assist in March, is the offer
still open?'

"Tom and I said we would be happy to help." 
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