Howard writes to convicted drug trafficker<\/p>\n
Agencies, Canberra<\/p>\n
Prime Minister John Howard has written to an Australian woman
\nconvicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia promising to do all he
\ncan to help her appeal.<\/p>\n
Howard sent the letter to Corby Schapelle on July 9 in
\nresponse to a personal appeal for help that she wrote to him from
\nher prison cell on the resort island of Bali. He released his
\nletter to the media on Monday.<\/p>\n
Australia's government \"will continue to provide every
\nassistance it can under our legal system,\" Howard wrote in the
\nletter.<\/p>\n
Corby, a 28-year-old beauty school student, was sentenced to
\n20 years in May after being convicted of smuggling 4.1 kilograms
\nof marijuana into Bali airport in October last year.<\/p>\n
Her conviction sparked an angry backlash in Australia. Threats
\nand packages of white powder were sent to the Indonesian Embassy
\nin Canberra following Corby's trial, forcing its temporary
\nclosure.<\/p>\n
\"I need your help to prove my innocence to the court to
\nrelease me from this nightmare,\" Corby told Howard in her letter
\ndated July 5.<\/p>\n
\"I feel for you and your family at this very difficult time,\"
\nHoward replied. \"I would like to take this opportunity to assure
\nyou that I will continue to take a personal interest in your
\ncase.\"<\/p>\n
Bali's High Court has since agreed to reopen the case to hear
\nnew evidence from witnesses who could support Corby's claim that
\nthe drugs found in her possession were placed there by someone
\nelse.<\/p>\n
The court has allowed Corby a new hearing on July 20 during
\nwhich up to 12 new witnesses are expected to testify that the
\ndrugs were planted in her surfboard bag.<\/p>\n
Corby's lawyers claim that Corby was probably the victim of a
\ndomestic drug smuggling ring involving corrupt baggage handlers.
\nThey say the ring used her luggage to transport cannabis on a
\ndomestic flight but failed to retrieve the drugs before her bags
\nwere transferred to an international flight.<\/p>\n
Several of the potential new witnesses are believed to be
\nalready serving prison sentences in Australia, while others are
\nthought to be baggage handlers and other airport staff.<\/p>\n
Howard said his government was prepared to assist witnesses to
\ngive evidence in Bali, but that it \"cannot compel any witness to
\ngive evidence against their will.\"<\/p>\n
Jakarta must seek Canberra's permission if potential witnesses
\nwant indemnity from prosecution in Australia, and before someone
\nalready convicted of a crime in Australia is allowed to testify
\nin Bali, Howard said.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, the Australian government can provide the
\nequipment to allow witnesses to testify from Australia via a
\nvideo link, the prime minister said.<\/p>\n
Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison has written to
\nSydney airport management and the airline that flew Corby to
\nBali, Qantas Airways Ltd., seeking help in encouraging potential
\ndefense witnesses to come forward, Howard said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/howard-writes-to-convicted-drug-trafficker-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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