Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jun 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Website: http://www.abc.net.au/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Corby (Schapelle Corby)

PROSECUTORS LODGE CORBY APPEAL

Prosecutors in Bali have formally asked for an increase in the sentence 
handed to convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.

Corby was sentenced to 20 years jail and fined for carrying 4.1 kilograms 
of marijuana into Indonesia in her bodyboard bag.

The prosecutors have appealed to the High Court of Denpasar against the 
leniency of the sentence, saying Corby has having been involved in a 
"transnational crime".

The appeal in part states that drug importation is a great danger to life, 
the community and the nation, and that the perpetrators of this form of 
transnational crime have to be punished with a severe penalty.

The defence team is expected to file its appeal tomorrow.

Unless it succeeds in its planned request for hearings to be reopened, the 
appeal could be resolved behind closed doors within a month or so. Soap star

The defence has added an Indonesian soap star, Anisa Tri Hapsari, to its team.

Working under recently hired Jakarta commercial lawyer Hotman Paris 
Hutapea, she will act as an information officer to try to persuade ordinary 
Indonesians of Corby's innocence.

Mr Hutapea says the Hapsari campaign may help persuade the judges, who are 
usually reluctant to go against public opinion.

"Her high-profile label will be to help convince people that Corby is not 
guilty," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom