Corby's defense has claimed all along that baggage handlers in Australia planted the drugs in Corby's luggage as part of a bungled domestic smuggling operation - and that the drugs were never meant to arrive in Indonesia at all....Questions are being asked as to why there were no fingerprints taken from the bag that contained 9 pounds of marijuana the moment it was discovered in the student's boogie bag in Denpasar airport.
She tried to tell the judges, but it fell on deaf ears.
Alleged marijuana smuggler Schapelle Corby's emotional final plea of innocence was delivered to a bench of apparently unmoved judges, one of whom did not understand her address while another read a book.
Reports are Schapelle is "very stressed." Who wouldn't be? The Australian Government has submitted a prisoner exchange treaty to Indonesia, but it's not in effect yet and there are indications that the Indonesian Government would not look favorably upon singling Schapelle out for special treatment by allowing her to return to Australia ahead of other prisoners.
Nevertheless, attempts may be made to do that. Don't hold your breath.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said the transfer plan was a slippery slope. "If we make a special arrangement in this case an argument might be made when other cases come up by the loved ones of people who get into trouble."
A non-scientific poll at Dontshootschapelle shows that 99.95% of Australians believe her to be innocent.
There may be a death threat against her, and Indonesian authorities have promised to protect her. Ron Bakir, the Queensland Australian businessman who has financed her defense reports on their jail visit yesterday:
"She's in pretty bad shape, as you can imagine. It's a big day tomorrow for her," he said on the Channel 9 today. "She's very nervous. Very, very nervous. You sit and talk to her and she's shaking permanently throughout the conversation."
Her divorced parents and sister are on site. Her father made the trip a few weeks ago despite being terminally ill with cancer.
Some things her lawyers haven't told her: The three judges hearing her case have never acquitted anyone on drugs charges.
"We haven't told her that because she's under enough strain," he said.
One columnist in Australia, after noting the difficulty, if not impossibility, of one government intervening in the affairs of another, opined:
The Corby trial also brings into focus the advantages of bilateral treaty arrangements between Australia and the countries of the region - and perhaps elsewhere as well - which would allow for the nationals of one country to serve out any prison sentence in their home country. This mutual co-operation between countries is common in Europe and has been implemented recently between Australia and Thailand.
This process should continue and broaden, so Australians in the prisons of other countries, including Indonesia, would have the possibility of being returned to much more familiar surroundings close to their family and support network. From a "rehabilitation" viewpoint of justice, this is also a much preferred arrangement.
Naturally, such agreements would operate on a reciprocal basis and may not be applicable in every situation, though it would give hope to those in desperate circumstances. The plight of Corby has captured the imagination of many Australians. We must learn from this to ensure every possible legal and diplomatic effort is made to support all Australians facing trial overseas.
Corby is praying for a miracle. TalkLeft hopes she's acquitted. I checked the world clock and the time difference to Bali appears to be 14 hours. I'll try to follow the verdict, but if you see it first, put it in the comments.
And on a related note, check out the Bali Nine, 9 Australians, as young as 18, facing the death penalty after a recent arrest for smuggling heroin into Bali. While they may not have the innocence claims of Schappelle, the use of the death penalty shows that Indonesia remains a truly backwards country.
I have refused to travel to Singapore ever since they caned the teenager some years back. Barring a miracle for Schappelle, Bali will be added to my list. That's okay, the beaches in Southern Thailand are terrific, and I've been looking for an excuse to visit the Seychelles and Mauritius.
Free Schapelle.
Update: If you are online:
National Nine News online will stream live audio from her Denpasar courtroom, translated, here from 12.30pm AEST.
The station will also have a live blogger at the courthouse.
May 23...Five days from the verdict, National Nine News now has its full complement in Bali to cover the event. Three reporters, five camera operators and assistants, plus three Indonesian helpers and a translator. We learn our live coverage has been extended to begin at 11.30am AEST.
The station is the only one allowed the Judge is allowing inside the courtroom. You can watch a video of the case from arrest to judgment day here.
