Corby reinstates Indonesian lawyers
Corby reinstates Indonesian lawyers
Reuters, Jakarta
An Australian woman jailed in Indonesia for smuggling drugs
has rehired the Indonesian lawyers she sacked a few days ago, in
the latest twist in a case that has gripped Australians.
The firing and rehiring of legal counsels came as Schapelle
Corby, a beauty therapist, awaits a decision on her defense
team's appeal against her 20-year sentence for smuggling 4.1 kg
(9 lb) of marijuana into the resort island of Bali.
Corby's conviction sparked public outrage and threats against
Indonesian diplomats in Australia. The Indonesian embassy closed
twice due to security scares after receiving suspicious packages
of what turned out to contain harmless white powder.
Last Friday, the Indonesian foreign ministry received a
similar package with Australian stamps on it.
After the May 27 conviction, Corby hired high-profile Jakarta
lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea to strengthen her legal team, which
had been made up of Bali-based counsels, to prepare the appeal.
However, Corby sacked all her Indonesian lawyers last week
following allegations from Corby's Australian solicitor Mark
Trowell that "lobbying money" had been requested to smooth appeal
efforts.
The allegation became headline news in Australia and prompted
Corby to appoint a new legal team headed by Indonesian-based
German lawyer Walter Tonetto.
On Monday, Corby's sister Mercedes told reporters the family
had discontinued Tonetto's services and rehired Hutapea and two
of Corby's previous Bali-based lawyers after Trowell said they
were not involved in any wrongdoing.
Corby, 27, has consistently denied the drug charges and
insisted airport baggage handlers in Australia planted the
marijuana in the bodyboard bag she brought into Bali.
Hutapea, a colorful figure with a penchant for bringing
actresses to court as assistants, has argued Corby's drug
possession was unwitting and asked the Australian government to
help secure an admission of guilt from the person he claimed as
the real owner of the drugs.
Legal experts say that to overturn the conviction, Corby's
defense will have to provide hard evidence that Australian
airport luggage handlers put the cannabis into the bag without
her knowledge.