Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jul 2005
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Greg Ansley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Schapelle (Schapelle Corby)

BALI JUDGES OPEN DOORS TO FRESH CORBY EVIDENCE

CANBERRA - Convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has 
been thrown a surprise lifeline by the Indonesian courts with the 
announcement that her case will be reopened to allow her lawyers to 
present new evidence supporting her claim that 4.1kg of cannabis was 
stuffed in her bag by an Australian drug ring.

The news, reported by ABC radio yesterday, follows Corby's 20-year 
sentence in May for taking the cannabis into Bali last year and comes 
ahead of her appeal against a decision that incited fury among 
opposing camps in Australia and Bali, triggered protests and even 
prompted death threats against Indonesian diplomats.

It is understood that at least one person allegedly involved in 
placing the cannabis into Corby's boogie board bag before her plane 
left Brisbane for a connecting flight to Bali will give evidence.

John Ford, the Victorian prisoner who first raised the claim that a 
domestic drug ring had used Corby without her knowledge, paying 
baggage handlers to conceal the cannabis inside her bag, may also 
return to Bali for the new hearing.

Ford was flown to Denpasar for Corby's trial, but his evidence 
carried no weight with the three judges who heard the case.

The latest twist in what has almost become a real-life soap opera 
emerged late yesterday when the ABC's Jakarta correspondent, Tim 
Palmer, reported that Bali's High Court judges would reopen the case 
to allow evidence from new witnesses, possibly including one who 
would admit to owning the marijuana found in Corby's bag.

Palmer reported that the judges had offered Corby's lawyers the 
chance to bring forward witnesses who could show that the 27-year-old 
former Gold Coast student beauty therapist did not own the cannabis.

Bali High Court Chief Judge Made Lingga told the ABC that while he 
was satisfied with the conduct of Corby's trial, the court would 
agree to the new defence team's request that the case be reopened.

The new defence team, led by celebrity Jakarta lawyer Hotman Paris 
Hutapea, has itself been surrounded in controversy and was sacked and 
then re-hired by Corby following an alleged plan to bribe the judges 
who will hear her appeal.

The Indonesian team has also clashed publicly with the two Australian 
QCs, Mark Trowell and Tom Percy, who agreed to provide their services 
free at the request of the Justice Minister, Chris Ellison.

Judge Made Lingga told the ABC that the High Court did not want to 
limit the defence team, but he wanted only witnesses directly 
relevant to the ownership of the cannabis to be called before the court.

Australian Customs and airport officials may also fly to Bali for the 
new hearing.

Corby's mother, Roseleigh Rose, was delighted by the news.

"[Corby's Bali-based sister] Mercedes just said, 'Mum, we're not sure 
100 per cent, but we're pretty sure the judges are open for it to be 
opened up again'," she told the ABC.

"I don't know how that works or whatever, but it's just excellent 
news, really good."

In Perth, Mr Trowell said the development was the result of work by a 
lot of people acting on Corby's behalf and was wonderful to see.

"I'd just say I'm delighted," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake