Most australians would know by now that Schapelle Corby has been found guilty of importing drugs into Indonesia and sentenced to 20 years in prison. For the non aussies here, Schapelle Corby was found with 4 kgs of marijuana in her body board bag when entering Indonesia last October. The bag had no locks or security and had been out of her possession since she boarded the plane on The QLD Gold Coast. Throughout her detention and trial, Schapelle has maintained her innocence, and there was plenty of evidence to support her claim. A drug trafficking ring at Sydney airport has been uncovered among baggage handlers there, and an independent witness, a man who was in jail on remand waiting trial for unrelated offences, was flown to Denpasar to testify that he overheard a conversation between two inmates thta suggested Schapelle was an innocent drug mule in this case. However, the same judges who found the bali bombers guilty and gave them an 18 month prison sentence have today sentenced Schapelle to 20 years in an Indonesian prison.
"The defendant has been proven legally and convincingly guilty" a translator quoted the judges as saying on Sky News.
"We've found that drugs were imported into Indonesia. Importation is illegal in Indonesia and it occurred at Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar. This occurred without a licence or any permit to do so. It may not be done by anyone."
"She has been unrepentant to this. It is found the defendant is responsible for the narcotics and this should be considered when handing down the judgement."
The judges said they accepted the evidence of police and customs officials that Corby admitted to owning the drugs, despite her denials.
"So it's true that Schapelle Corby has imported marijuana through customs area in Bali" the judges said, before adding that if sold on the streets of of Bali it represented a "danger to humanity".
Hmmm...obviously blowing up crowded night clubs is LESS of a danger to humanity than marijuana?
The australian Govt reaction to the verdict and sentencing has been mixed.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Australian government has offered assistance to Schapelle Corby's defence team to launch a legal challenge
Mr Downer said Corby's team would be offered two QCs, who had experience in Indonesian courts, on a pro bono basis.
"Schapelle Corby's team have said they will appeal this decision," he said.
"The Australian government has in the past offered the assistance on a pro bono basis of two QCs to assist Schapelle Corby's defence and we are renewing that offer to Schapelle Corby today.
"Our consul general ... will be talking to Schapelle Corby today and making the offer of the legal assistance."
Mr Downer said the government would begin discussions in the next 10 days with the Indonesians on a prisoner transfer agreement.
"We don't know how long this will take to negotiate but we know the Indonesian government is very willing to enter into negotiations on a prisoner transfer agreement," he said.
Mr Downer said any transfer could only occur after all the appeals process was completed.
"Whether such a transfer agreement would apply to Schapelle Corby would depend very much on what happened in the appeals process," he said.
Mr Downer said the federal government remained hopeful that it could quickly negotiate a prisoner transfer agreement with Indonesia before Corby's appeal process was complete.
"I think we should be able to negotiate such an agreement with Indonesia reasonably quickly but we'll have to wait and see," he said.
"But the whole question of the transfer of prisoners can't even be considered until the appeals process is complete and the appeals have been unsuccessful.
"So in those circumstances it would then be a matter for negotiation with the Indonesian government on the actual transfer, assuming that by then we had completed the prisoner transfer agreement."
He said he did not believe there was anything more the government could have done to help Corby's case.
"In the case of Schapelle Corby we have provided very substantial support," he said.
Really? Idont think so. It's a fact that Schapelle's legal defence was not funded by the Aust Govt but by an independent Gold Coast businessman.
The Labour party have written to the Indonesian Prime Minister asking for a pardon for Schapelle. Under Indonesian law, their PM is able to grant such a request. But will he? Let's hope he remembers the billions of dollars of aid Australia has provided in tsunami relief etc to his country while he is pondering his decision. The request for the pardon does not yet have the backing of the Liberal Govt.
Former One Nation MP Pauling Hanson has called on all Australians to boycott Indonesia as a trvel destination. She says, and rightly so.."you could b the next person in Schapelle Corbys position.
And what does the Australian leader have to say? As usual, nothing we want to hear.
Prime Minister John Howard has appealed for Australians to accept the verdict of the Indonesian court which today jailed Schapelle Corby for 20 years for drug smuggling.
Mr Howard said he felt for Corby and her family but said Australians had to accept the outcome of the Indonesian justice system.
"I do ask we all pause and understand the situation and recognise and respect that when we visit other countries we are subject to the laws and rules of those countries, just as when people visit our country they are subject to our laws and our rules," Mr Howard said in Melbourne.
Mr Howard said whether Corby was guilty or innocent was not for him to judge or for Australians to judge without hearing the full evidence.
Mr Howard said that the outcome was a tragedy for Corby and her family.
"Now that the guilty verdict has been handed down by the Indonesian court and Ms Corby has been sentenced to a jail term of 20 years there will be deep feeling in the Australian community," Mr Howard said.
"I recognise that, I say at the outset, that guilty or innocent, I feel for this young woman.
"If she is guilty I feel for her, that a tragic mistake and tragic act has done so much damage to her young life.
"If she is innocent, my feelings are redoubled.
"It is not for me to make a judgment and not for my fellow Australians, however strongly they feel to make a judgment."
Mr Howard said it was appropriate for the Australian Government to continue what it had been doing to provide proper assistance to the defence team.
"We have neither the power nor the right to intervene at a government level in the way in which those justice systems operate," Mr Howard said.
"I'm sure that if a foreigner were on trial in this country and the prime minister or president of that country sought to intervene in our justice system we would rightfully resent it."
"I can assure my fellow Australians that whatever additional assistance that can appropriately be provided will be," he said.
"But at the end of the day we must, and the Government will, respect the processes of the justice system of other countries."
Oh really? how comforting that must be to Schapelle and her family, knowing our Govt has respect for the justice system that has dealt with her so unfairly. Because I have no doubt at all that she IS innocent. And that is the opinion of the majority of the Australian public.
Our govt may not have the right to intervene in their justice system, but it sure can stop their country using ours as a personal piggy bank. In my opinion, all aid should be ceased to Indonesia, and all trade agreements which benefit their country should be suspended. I agree with Pauline Hanson. Boycott Indonesia. And if Mr Howard doesnt finally stand up and be counted for the people who elected him, show him how Australians really feel at the next election.
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