Pubdate: Fri, 27 May 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
Author: Lindsay Murdoch

GUILTY: CORBY JAILED FOR 20 YEARS

Schapelle Corby dried her tears behind the walls of Bali's Kerobokan
jail tonight, vowing to fight her drug smuggling conviction and
20-year prison sentence.

In chaotic scenes at Denpasar District Court earlier, her shocked
lawyers and family denounced the verdict handed down by three
Indonesian judges as a miscarriage of justice. They announced an
appeal would be filed as early as Monday.

But Indonesian prosecutors, who had demanded life in prison for the
27-year-old Gold Coast woman, complained she had got off too lightly.

They declared they would also go to a higher court and appeal for a
tougher sentence for the crime of trying to smuggle marijuana into
Bali.

"For us, a just penalty should be life for anyone who imports 4.1kg of
marijuana," said chief prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer offered to send two senior
Australian lawyers to help with Corby's appeal, free of charge, and
said the government would begin discussions with Jakarta within 10
days on a prisoner transfer deal.

Back in her jail cell tonight, Corby told her lawyers: "No more
crying, we will fight together".

Corby's conviction and sentencing dismayed her supporters and lawyers,
who argued the drugs were placed in her bag, without her knowledge, by
drug smugglers in Australia.

"Schapelle told me the she did not deserve this. She said that not
locking her bag was the only mistake she had made. But she's says it
is not over yet," said chief defence counsel Lily Lubis.

Lubis fears for her client's life in an Indonesian jail. "I know for
sure she will not survive this sentence,'' she  said.

In contrast, Corby's family and supporters declared her to be capable
of coping with anything.

"She is the strongest person I know,'' said her sister Mercedes. "If
anyone can get through this, it is Schapelle.''

Australian acting consul general in Bali Ross Tysoe said he was
encouraged by Corby's attitude after visiting her in prison after the
sentencing.

"For what she's been through, she's coping extremely well,'' he
said.

Another of Corby's lawyers, Erwin Siregar, defended his team's
performance after today's sentencing.

Siregar said that short of producing the person Corby claims planted
the drugs on her, there was a little more he could do.

"How can I name the person who put the drugs inside her bag,'' he
said.

"The judge said to me 'if you want your client free, bring the
guy'.

"How can I bring the guy. It's up to Australia to find
him.''

Earlier, the packed, humid Denpasar court erupted in disbelief and
anger as Corby was declared guilty.

She   received a 20-year jail term after being found guilty of
importing marijuana. Judges also fined Corby 100 million rupiah ($13,875).

The decision sparked  fury among her family in court.

Her lawyers immediately said they would appeal and prosecutors are set
to follow suit, having sought a life sentence.

Corby had earlier begun weeping and rocking back-and-forth on her
chair after learning that the judges have found the charges against
her as proven  - one step below guilt under Indonesian law -  before
Chief Judge Linton Sirait announced the verdict.

The 27-year-old looked stunned as the verdict was translated for her,
but turned around to urge her family to stop their shouting.

She then hugged lawyer Lily Lupis while members of the gallery voiced
their outrage.

"Twenty years?," said Corby, who was standing to hear the verdict from
chief judge Linton Sirait.

She immediately turned to distressed mother Roseleigh Rose and
appeared to shout: "Mum it's OK".

As the courtroom descended into chaos, Corby then hugged her
interpreter and pushed through police to get to her mother and father
Michael Corby.

She kissed other members of her family and was then led away by police
through a crush of media to a waiting vehicle, which rushed her back
to Kerobokan prison.

Corby backer, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir, said she would
appeal.

"This is a massive injustice," he told reporters, crying.

"I'm speechless, I'm speechless I really am, I really don't know what
more we could have done.

"We just have to keep fighting - that's all we can
do."

Ms  Lubis said the appeal process had already begun, but added of her
client: "She will not survive."

Corby, 27, faced the death penalty if convicted of importing a
narcotic, a maximum of life imprisonment for transiting a drug, and a
maximum of 10 years' jail for possession.

Wearing a black silk blouse and pink pants, she had been half-carried
into the court by about 10 Indonesian police officers.

The panel of three judges finalised its decision days ago, with one
local paper speculating that a 15-year jail term would be announced
for the 27-year-old.

Jano Gibson writes:  On appeal, the case will  go before the High
Court, which has 150 days to make a decision.

Both teams can appeal its decision taking the case to the Supreme
Court, which will have 170 days to determine whether Ms Corby is
innocent or guilty.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin