When Corby found GUILTY

[My Australasia]

Corby jailed for 20 years

SCHAPELLE Corby will spend the next 20 years behind bars after an Indonesian court today found her guilty of drug smuggling.

Corby's legal team immediately said they would appeal the conviction and sentence, which will see Corby jailed until she is 47-years-old.

Corby was found guilty of importing 4.1kg of a Class 1 drug into Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar in October last year with judges dismissing her claims that someone else put the drugs into her boogie board bag.

Scenes of pandemonium broke out in the courtroom after the sentence was handed down with Corby's family screaming at the judge and shouting "You'll never sleep".

Corby then appeared to turn to her mother and mouth the words: "It's OK mum."

In addition to the jail term, judges also fined the Gold Coast woman 100 million rupiah ($13,870).

Outside court, Corby's financial backer, Queensland businessman Ron Bakir, said he would appeal against her conviction.

"We will appeal. We will appeal. We'll take it to the highest level," a distressed Mr Bakir told reporters.

"This is a massive injustice, what can I say. We'll get her out of there if it's the last thing we do."

Corby's Australian lawyer Robin Tampoe also said her defence would not stop.

"We won't stop. We'll never stop."

The three-judge bench said they accepted the evidence of police and customs officials that Corby admitted to owning the drugs, despite her claims she never admitted anything.

"The defendant has been proven legally and convincingly guilty," a translator quoted the judges as saying on Sky News.

"We've found that drugs were imported into Indonesia. Importation is illegal in Indonesia and it occurred at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar. This occurred without a licence or any permit to do so. It may not be done by anyone."

"She has been unrepentant to this. It is found the defendant is responsible for the narcotics and this should be considered when handing down the judgment."

A friend of the Corby family immediately made a plea to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to release her.

Citing the help provided by Australia during the recent tsunami disaster, he said: "For a friendship to grow there must be giving from both friends.

"Mr President, we have seen enough innocent lives wasted in the last year.

"All Australia asks is that you give Schapelle back to us."

During two hours reading their 80-page finding, the judges said they were in agreement that the evidence proved Corby guilty.

They dismissed evidence from Melbourne prisoner John Ford that Corby was the innocent victim of a domestic drug-trafficking operation.

They also rejected claims of a drug ring operating among baggage handlers at Sydney airport.

Speaking after the judgment, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Government's thoughts were with Corby and her family.

"We are not able to interfere in the legal processes of other countires," he said.

"But the Australian Government has in the past offered the assistance of two QCs ... and this will be offered again in Schapelle Corby's case."

Mr Downer also said the Government would begin official talks with the Indonesians in the next 10 days about the possibility of a prisoner transfer agreement.

He said the Government had already provided substantial financial support to Corby's defence and would continue to do so.

AAP

Related News:

Corby lawyer at a loss on verdict

Indonesian prosecutors plan appeal

Corby found guilty; gets 20 years