Bali judges open doors to fresh Corby evidence

CANBERRA - Convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has been thrown a surprise lifeline by the Indonesian courts with the announcement that her case will be reopened to allow her lawyers to present new evidence supporting her claim that 4.1kg of cannabis was stuffed in her bag by an Australian drug ring.


The news, reported by ABC radio yesterday, follows Corby's 20-year sentence in May for taking the cannabis into Bali last year and comes ahead of her appeal against a decision that incited fury among opposing camps in Australia and Bali, triggered protests and even prompted death threats against Indonesian diplomats.


It is understood that at least one person allegedly involved in placing the cannabis into Corby's boogie board bag before her plane left Brisbane for a connecting flight to Bali will give evidence.


John Ford, the Victorian prisoner who first raised the claim that a domestic drug ring had used Corby without her knowledge, paying baggage handlers to conceal the cannabis inside her bag, may also return to Bali for the new hearing.


Ford was flown to Denpasar for Corby's trial, but his evidence carried no weight with the three judges who heard the case.


The latest twist in what has almost become a real-life soap opera emerged late yesterday when the ABC's Jakarta correspondent, Tim Palmer, reported that Bali's High Court judges would reopen the case to allow evidence from new witnesses, possibly including one who would admit to owning the marijuana found in Corby's bag.


Palmer reported that the judges had offered Corby's lawyers the chance to bring forward witnesses who could show that the 27-year-old former Gold Coast student beauty therapist did not own the cannabis.


Bali High Court Chief Judge Made Lingga told the ABC that while he was satisfied with the conduct of Corby's trial, the court would agree to the new defence team's request that the case be reopened.


The new defence team, led by celebrity Jakarta lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea, has itself been surrounded in controversy and was sacked and then re-hired by Corby following an alleged plan to bribe the judges who will hear her appeal.


The Indonesian team has also clashed publicly with the two Australian QCs, Mark Trowell and Tom Percy, who agreed to provide their services free at the request of the Justice Minister, Chris Ellison.


Judge Made Lingga told the ABC that the High Court did not want to limit the defence team, but he wanted only witnesses directly relevant to the ownership of the cannabis to be called before the court.


Australian Customs and airport officials may also fly to Bali for the new hearing.


Corby's mother, Roseleigh Rose, was delighted by the news.


"[Corby's Bali-based sister] Mercedes just said, 'Mum, we're not sure 100 per cent, but we're pretty sure the judges are open for it to be opened up again'," she told the ABC.


"I don't know how that works or whatever, but it's just excellent news, really good."


In Perth, Mr Trowell said the development was the result of work by a lot of people acting on Corby's behalf and was wonderful to see.


"I'd just say I'm delighted," he said.