Pubdate: Sun, 27 Mar 2005
Source: Advertiser, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 Advertiser Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1
Author: Cindy Wockner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Schapelle+Corby

PRISONER ARRIVES TO SAVE CORBY'S LIFE

John Patrick Ford -- the man with the best chance of helping Schapelle
Corby beat deadly drug smuggling charges -- arrived in Bali yesterday.

In handcuffs and under tight security, the 40-year-old was met by
Bali's drug squad chief Lieutenant-Colonel Bam Bang Sugiarto and a
team of six drug squad officers.

He was taken in a prison truck to the jail at Denpasar police
headquarters, where he will be held until tomorrow before he takes the
stand.

Ford -- on remand from a Victorian prison and facing charges of rape,
aggravated burglary, threatening to kill, unlawful imprisonment and
assault -- showed no emotion as he was escorted into prison.

He refused to answer questions as to why he felt compelled to give
evidence.

Gold Coast mobile phone entrepreneur Ron Bakir, who is bankrolling
Corby's defence, said he and the legal team were expecting to brief
the prisoner.

"We will just tell him about the process of the court, about where to
sit and what will happen on Tuesday," Mr Bakir said yesterday.

He added it was "magic news" that Ford had finally arrived in Bali and
was ready to testify.

Mr Bakir and Ms Corby's lawyers described the evidence he will give to
the court as critical to her defence and to her chances of acquittal.

They claim the man will testify about the true owners of the 4.1kg of
marijuana found in her boogie board bag.

Ford has apparently signed an affidavit naming three people who
allegedly traffic drugs through Australian airports. He is expected to
claim he overheard a conversation between two drug traffickers who had
said some drugs had been put in the wrong bag or on the wrong flight.

"His statements are pretty solid statements. He makes a lot of
allegations and says a lot of things about a lot of people and they
need to be heard," Mr Bakir said.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock yesterday defended the Government's
position in the case and criticised Corby's legal team for being tardy
in its witness handling.

"Only one day before the proceedings, to be initiating a request (for
Ford's clearance to give evidence), suggests to me some inactivity,"
he said.

Meanwhile, Ford's ex-wife Rita said yesterday she was proud of him for
offering his testimony, adding there was no benefit for him in
travelling to Bali to testify. "You worry about people who are close
to you," she said. "Of course I am (worried) and I think everyone in
Australia should be."

Ms Ford said her ex-husband wanted to try to help Corby. "He's hoping
that he can help," she said. "It's the right thing to do."

The Corby's defence team suffered a set back when her Gold Coast
lawyer Robin Tampoe suffered an electric shock on Friday night.

The cord of a microphone he was using to address his Kuta team and
supporters fell in water, giving him a potentially deadly shock.

He was unconscious until Ms Corby's older sister Mercedes reportedly
resuscitated him. Mr Tampoe was later taken to hospital.

"We almost lost him; it took about 15 seconds to bring him back to
life," Mr Bakir said.

"I grabbed his hand and was saying 'Robin squeeze my hand if you are
there' but he was not there."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin