Pubdate: Tue, 19 Jul 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

REAL CULPRIT WANTS TO TESTIFY: CORBY LAWYER

A barrister representing convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby 
says her legal team knows of a person who wants to admit in court to 
placing marijuana in her bag.

Barrister Erwin Siregar has made the claim on the eve of Corby's case 
being reopened in the Bali High Court.

Mr Siregar admits that at this stage the defence has little to 
present to the court tomorrow.

An Indonesian academic and possibly a Balinese policeman are the only 
figures likely to be on Mr Siregar's witness list.

Corby's defence lawyers had previously told the High Court they 
intended to present 12 witnesses if hearings reopened and now say 
they want more time.

Mr Siregar went on to make the remarkable claim that the defence team 
knows of someone who could deliver dramatic new evidence that they, 
rather than Schapelle Corby, placed the drugs in her bag.

But he claims the Australian Government has stymied that evidence.

"There is somebody who want to come to Bali to say, mention that he 
put the marijuana in Schapelle bag," Mr Siregar said.

"But because of the Australian Government not give immunity, so they 
don't want to care about that."

Mr Siregar says the defence team had asked for two Australian 
witnesses to testify before the High Court.

He says he will seek an adjournment if the Australians do not front the court.

"Until yesterday we don't have a positive answer from your 
Government," he said.

"If this thing [does] not happen by tomorrow we have already also 
requested to the chief of the High Court to postpone the hearing 
until August 4 because we [are] still waiting the final answer from 
the Australian Government concerning to the witness that we requested."
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MAP posted-by: Beth