Corby given 20 years in jail

Schapelle Corby

BALI, Indonesia - An Indonesian court has sentenced Schapelle Corby to 20 years in jail after finding her guilty of trying to smuggle 4.1 kg of marijuana into Bali last year.

Family and friends of Schapelle Corby, 27, reacted to the verdict with screams.

Corby had repeatedly argued the drugs found by Bali airport officials in her bag were not hers and said they were planted there. Prosecutors had demanded life in jail.

The Indonesian judges in the Schapelle Corby case said the charge of importing drugs was proven. She was also fined about $15,000.

The judges said that based on the evidence and testimony from witnesses, the charges of importing illegal drugs into Indonesia were convincingly proven.

They said they had discounted much of the evidence, including that from Australian criminologist Paul Wilson and Corby's own family.

Corby was in court listening to her fate as the three-judge panel read its 80-page verdict. After about two hours, she broke down and started to cry as the judges ruled on the charges, but after a while composed herself again.

Chief Judge Linton Sirait began reading the judgment in Indonesian, his words relayed to Corby by a translator.

Sirait said it was "true" Corby admitted the bag containing the marijuana was hers, according to the translation.

Sirait said the "suspect" Corby had admitted the drugs were hers, referring to testimony by Indonesian customs officers.

- REUTERS, AAP