Pubdate: Thu, 03 Mar 2005
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

LEGAL TEAM FLIES TO DEFEND CORBY

An Australian legal team flew to Bali on Thursday to help defend accused 
Gold Coast drug trafficker Schapelle Corby.

Funded by Gold Coast mobile phone entrepreneur Ron Bakir, the plan is to 
guarantee Corby's Indonesian lawyers get all the Australian assistance they 
need to prove the origin of drugs found in Corby's possession.

Corby, who proclaims her innocence, is accused of smuggling 4.1 kilograms 
of cannabis leaf and heads into Bali's Denpasar Airport in her boogie board 
bag last October.

She faces the death penalty if convicted.

Criminal lawyer Robin Tampoe, who accompanied Mr Bakir, said there were 
serious anomalies in statements made about Corby's travel movements before 
she arrived in Bali.

"Some of the key evidence relates to what happened prior to her arriving in 
Indonesia," he told the Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper before he left for Bali.

"At the moment, because of a ridiculous lack of co-operation from the 
Australian government, we haven't had those questions answered.

"My role will be to ensure that everything is tied up at the Australian end."

Mr Bakir said Corby had the right to a fair trial and he was just glad to 
have the means to assist.

"Let me make it clear that I am totally against drugs," he said.

"But this is a 27-year-old woman who says she is innocent. The bottom line 
is she deserves every help to produce the evidence to counter the charges."