Outrage In Australia!
Australian outrage over drug verdict
Sunday, May 29, 2005 Posted: 10:51 PM EDT (0251 GMT)
Corby and her mother hug after the verdict.
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(CNN) -- The Australian government is offering to send a team of lawyers to help Schapelle Corby fight her 20-year prison sentence for drug smuggling in Indonesia.
The 27-year-old Australian beautician's fate was sealed Friday, when an Indonesian court found her guilty of smuggling over 4 kilograms (nine pounds of marijuana) into Bali. Her enraged mother screamed, "Our government will bring you home."
She could have received life in prison or the death penalty. The Associated Press cites a report by the state news agency Antara that prosecutors are planning to appeal the sentence, saying 20 years is too lenient.
In addition to the prison term, Corby must also pay a $10,700 (10 million rupiahs) fine.
She has been held in a Bali jail since her arrest at an airport in Denpasar last October.
Her verdict and sentence have generated outrage in Australia, where the government is trying to negotiate her returning home to serve her prison sentence.
The case has triggered threats against Indonesian diplomatic missions in Australia and Indonesia.
A recent survey among Australians found 90 percent believed Corby to be innocent.
Even actor Russell Crowe has jumped in, asking how his government could let Corby "rot away in a foreign prison."
Corby has maintained her innocence and insisted that the drugs found in one of her unlocked bags were planted by baggage handlers in Australia.
During the trial, Corby's team was buoyed by news that the Australian Federal Police and Qantas Airways were investigating the role of baggage handlers in a cocaine smuggling operation.
The scene in the courtroom turned chaotic Friday when the guilty verdict was read.
Corby appeared confused after the verdict and sentence were read, but after conferring with her interpreter, reality sank in and she glared at prosecutors.
She turned toward her mother, Rosleigh Rose, and said, "Mum, it's OK," before breaking down in tears.
Corby's sister, Mercedes, screamed shrilly at the judges: "It's not all right! How dare you!"
As she was being led away, Schapelle broke free from guards and hugged her mother.
"Schapelle, you will come home. Our government will bring you home," her mother vowed after guards separated them.
One of Schapelle's attorneys told a reporter, "I don't think she can survive [in prison]."
Her financial backer, Australian businessman Ron Bakir said he would do whatever it took to get her home and called the verdict "a massive injustice."
Outside the courtroom, an emotional Mercedes said the family would appeal the verdict. "To all our family and friends, we love you all," she said. "Schapelle is innocent. This verdict is unjust. The case now enters a new phase, and we'll stand by Schapelle every step of the way.
"Our lawyers have done their best and with the support of all the Australians, thank you. Schapelle will be coming home soon."
The sister then screamed, "I don't even know why [they had] the bloody trial. They didn't take any of our witnesses into account."
Dismissed key evidence
"The defendant has been proven legally and convincingly guilty," a translator quoted the judges as saying on Sky News.
In rendering the verdict Judge Linton Sirait said Corby had "convincingly carried out a crime" by unlawfully importing the drug.
"The actions of the accused were a danger to the community," he said. "This was a transnational crime that could damage the minds of young people."
The panel of three judges dismissed every defense witness, including testimony from Australia prisoner John Ford, who backed Corby's claim that she was an unwitting "drug mule."
The judges found Corby's defense team unable to prove if there was another person responsible for the drugs.
But her defense team raised concerns about the failure of police to fingerprint the plastic bag containing the drugs or to videotape the search. In addition, a request to have the marijuana tested to reveal its source was denied.
Home reaction
Prime Minister John Howard said he understood why Australians feel so deeply about the Corby case.
"The fact that we are a nation whose young travel so much, it is an issue that has touched this country very directly," he said.
Many callers to radio talk shows in Australia said they regretted making donations to Indonesian tsunami victims, The Associated Press reported.
Others called for Australians to boycott the popular holiday destination of Bali and Indonesian products.
Trying to keep a fragile relationship with Jakarta intact, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said any criticism of Indonesia or its justice system would be counterproductive and reflect very badly on Australia.
Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
I'm wondering what our Australian posters think of this shit! I hear there is a lot of speculation that innocent peoples' luggage is stuffed with drugs by handlers and people are made unwitting couriers! This is bullshit!
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