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.