Government Delivers in Corby Case

[Oz]

A LETTER outlining allegations concerning Australian baggage handlers' involvement in drug smuggling would be sent to the Bali court hearing charges against Schapelle Corby, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

 

Mr Howard said the Federal Government had prepared a letter for the court hearing Ms Corby's case, outlining claims that airport baggage handlers in Sydney had used luggage to traffic drugs.

 

"The letter was settled on Friday by the attorney-general," Mr Howard said on Channel 10.

 

The news has been welcomed by Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and comes after Ms Corby made a direct plea to Mr Howard for help.

 

Fifteen people were charged last week after 9.9kg of cocaine was shipped through Sydney airport, allegedly with the aid of corrupt baggage handlers. One Qantas baggage handler has been stood down.

 

Ms Corby, 27, who is accused of smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali on October 8 last year, has begged Mr Howard for justice, saying she is innocent.

 

However, Mr Howard said he could not interfere with her trial, despite her pleas for him to help her return home.

 

"I cannot interfere in a justice system of another country.

 

"I cannot and would not interfere with the justice system of our own country," he said.

 

"It's fundamental to our system of democracy that the executive arm of government doesn't interfere with the judiciary.

 

"I know that if a foreigner were arrested in Australia and charged with an offence and the president or prime minister of another country started telling our courts what to do, Australia would be mightily angry.

 

"But having said all of that, I feel for the girl, I think the whole country has been drawn into this and I can only repeat my fervent hope that the verdict is true and fair and right and just."

 

Mr Beazley said he supported the Government's moves to prepare a letter about the alleged trafficking by some airport baggage handlers, while agreeing Mr Howard could not get involved.

 

"That's obviously the case, but your heart goes out to Schapelle Corby, it's a dreadful set of circumstances for her to find herself in," he said on Channel 9.

 

Mr Beazley said if Ms Corby was found guilty, the Government should negotiate with Indonesia, to allow her to serve her time in an Australian prison.

 

"She's clearly deeply troubled, it's a very worrying time for her, the hearts of all Australians are with her.

 

"Now if the verdict goes the wrong way, and I sincerely hope she's acquitted, but if it goes in the opposite direction, then absolutely, clearly we have on our hands a situation where the Government must complete its agreement with Indonesia, as it has with a number of other countries, for an exchange of prisoners, so you can serve Indonesian time in an Australian jail and vice versa."

 

The Sunday Herald Sun today said Ms Corby had pleaded with Mr Howard to bring her home to Australia.

 

"Mr Howard, as a father and as a leader, I plead for your help," the newspaper quoted her as saying.

 

"I did not do this. I beg for justice.

 

"I don't know how much longer I can do this. Please bring me home. Please."

 

The Denpasar District Court will hand down a verdict on May 27.

 

Author: AAP

Date: 15/05/05

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Copyright: 2005 Nationwide News

[WantDaChronic]

well its better late than never i guess

 

sadly, the bali court will probably say that its just a general statement that doesnt have any relation to her case :thumbdown

 

goddamn indonesian government

[Pure]

Corby team pins hope on letter

 

May 15, 2005

 

A LETTER from the Australian Government to the Bali court trying Gold Coast woman Schapelle Corby on drug smuggling charges has been welcomed by her defence team.

 

The letter outlines allegations about the involvement of Australian baggage handlers in drug smuggling at Sydney airport.

 

It was drawn up following the charging last week or 15 people after 9.9kg of cocaine was shipped through Sydney airport, allegedly with the aid of corrupt baggage handlers. One Qantas baggage handler has been stood down.

 

Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir, who is bankrolling Ms Corby's legal battle said it was disappointing it had taken so long for the Australian Government to do what he and the legal team had been calling for.

 

But he said: "We appreciate it very, very much and we thank (Foreign Minister Alexander) Mr Downer and Prime Minister Howard for that letter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"For quite a while we have been asking both the Government and the federal police to come out and corroborate that story. They haven't until this letter, and it's crucial for us to have that letter.

 

"It's disappointing that it's taken so long, but we thank them very much."

 

He said the whole defence team was hoping the letter would have a strong influence on the Indonesian judges in the Denpasar District Court in deciding their verdict.

 

"It's very important to have that letter because we need to prove to the Indonesian authorities that there is a problem in Australia," Mr Bakir said.

 

"We have been saying it for a number of months that there is a problem in Australia which involves baggage handlers.

 

"They are involved in corruption, they are involved in smuggling and hopefully this letter will be very, very good for our case," Mr Bakir said.

 

Mr Bakir said the legal team would continue to fight until the verdict on May 27, even though the time for defence evidence to be presented was ending.

 

"We are collating every bit of information we can possibly obtain to submit by midday tomorrow to the courts and we will fire every arrow we have I guess and any other information that comes to light we will try no doubt to submit it - whether the judges decide to take it or not we are going to try anyway," Mr Bakir said.

 

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E1702,00.html

[WantDaChronic]

i read on sky news that the letter that was sent didnt even contain schappelle's name + they couldnt even spell the name right of the person it was sent to

 

then after corby's lawyers fixed the spelling and handed a copy over, the prosecution said that the letter, being on a general statement about the baggage handlers, holds no legal weight in her case and some anti-drug groups around indonesia are calling for the government to ignore the letter and let the indonesians decide her fate, the sad thing is, the stupid indonesians are listening to them :thumbdown

 

beazily said on national radio (and on tv) that if the case was held in australia, it would have been thrown out due to tainted and lack of evidence against her...what a champion :thumbsup howard says that i sent the letter and have done my part :angry:

 

goddamn howard is a pussy, if i were pm i would be all "she was caught with some smoko and you tainted the evidence against her, its your fault, you fucked up, now hand her over to australian authorities or we'll come and collect her..." fuck intinational relations or any of that, we supply their economy, the hunger with food and because they shit in the same water they drink, we are even nice enough to give them clean water....if they think a bit of smoko is worth life in prison, they are truely fucked in the head and every country world wide should boycott them....hell the bali bomber only got 2 years and is all but out of prison as is

[WantDaChronic]

indonesia has said that it will agree to a prisoner exchange if schapelle is convicted but the australian government is yet to file an application and the indonesian government says it will not consider such an agreement untill australia requests it :thumbdown

 

also there has been some protesting outside of the indonesian embassy in canberra :thumbsup good on them, i would have gone if i were in canberra...

 

also there was a special on channel 9 last night or the night before (im not sure as i only watch foxtel these days and read this on sky news active) were they had 100 australian audience members who voted on her innocence or guilt using the same system used for political debates....not so suprisingly, the majority said she was innocent, i think it was 92 or 98% of people, not sure but it was in the 90s

 

sadly, the way things are looking for poor schapelle, she is going to be given life in prison for a crime she did not do and after a month or so, the australian government will file for the exchange and will spell the name wrong or fuck up in another way or form and keep her in that shit hole for even longer :thumbdown

 

i hope that someone breaks her out, she disapears without a trace and lives happily ever after....