Corby gets 20 years in prison

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post/Denpasar

Ignoring mounting pressure from Australia, the Denpasar District Court sentenced on Friday Schapelle Leigh Corby to 20 years in prison for smuggling marijuana into Bali.

Despite Corby's claims that the drugs were put in her boogie board bag by drug ring members during transit in Sydney, presiding judge Linton Sirait pronounced the 27-year-old defendant guilty beyond a doubt of bringing 4.2 kilograms of marijuana into Bali last October.

The sentence was, however, much lighter than the maximum death penalty allowed under the law on narcotics.

Upon the reading of the verdict, Corby's lawyers said they would appeal.

The reaction of Corby's family was dramatic. Upon the completion of the reading of the verdict in the packed courtroom, Corby's sister Mercedes rose from her chair and shouted at the panel of judges that the verdict was unfair. She also cried out that Corby had to be sent home as she was innocent.

Corby, who was wearing a black blouse and light trousers, burst into tears when Linton pronounced her guilty and quickly hugged her parents.

"It's OK, it's OK," she said to calm them.

The Australian public rallied behind Corby after intense media coverage, with Australian media polls consistently showing that people were convinced of Corby's innocence.

Public reaction, which may jeopardize Indonesian and Australian relations again, have put the Australian government in an awkward position. Amid strong public pressure, Prime Minister John Howard appealed to the Australian public to respect the verdict while foreign minister Alexander Downer appeased Corby's family by offering them legal assistance in her appeal. "She was subject to the justice system of another country ... we have neither the power nor the right to intervene," said Howard, as quoted by AFP.

"An enormous amount of abuse directed to Indonesia and public criticism of Indonesia is not going to help. At the end of the day it is much more likely to be counterproductive than productive," Downer said, as quoted by Reuters.

Despite desperate efforts by the Australian government to appease the public, hostility against the Indonesian government is becoming apparent.

Australian security personnel had to beef up security at Indonesian facilities as well as at the homes of Indonesian diplomats in Australia following death threats against them. The verdict has also stirred negative sentiment among Australians vacationing in Bali. Similar to reactions back home, Australian tourists on the resort island have also called on the Australian public to boycott Bali, which has for years been the playground of Australian tourists.

As the Australian public opposed the verdict, public opinion in Indonesia is the exact opposite. Radio programs in Jakarta revealed that the local public believed that Corby deserved stern punishment as a deterrent to other drug dealers and users. Others in Bali insisted that Corby was guilty and should be sternly punished, although they doubted that Corby would serve the time stated in the sentence. "In just a short time, she will be transferred to Australia and then set free and she will come here again on a different passport," said Gusti Alit, who watched the trial screened outside the courtroom, as quoted by AFP.

Corby was not the only Australian to face justice in Indonesia. Nine other Australians are being prosecuted after being arrested last month also in Bali, also on drug charges.