Government letter to Corby judges might be too late

CANBERRA - The Howard government's letter to a Bali court about drug trafficking at Australian airports might be too late to help save Schapelle Corby from jail.

Corby's defence team and the Law Council of Australia have praised the government for sending the letter, which will be delivered to the court today.

But the chief prosecutor in the case, Ida Bagus Wiswantanu, said the letter is too late.

"After the hearing is closed, it's impossible to present more evidence," he told ABC radio through an interpreter.

"If it were to be submitted now, it would have no value at all according to Indonesian law."

Mr Wiswantanu also said it appeared the Australian government was trying to influence the decision in the Corby case.

"I cannot say the Australian government is interfering, but surely whoever sent the letter will try to gain influence in the decision," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

The chief judge in the case, Linton Sirait, also said the letter would make no difference to the decision on Corby, who faces life in a Bali jail if found guilty.

Judge Sirait said he did not believe there had been any intervention, but told the newspaper: "We don't watch what happens in Australia. We just keep moving with what we are doing. We don't read Australian papers. We don't think it's important to follow developments in Australia."

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday revealed the government had agreed to a request from Corby's lawyers to explain to the Bali court new information involving baggage handlers who may have helped smuggle cocaine through Sydney airport.

Corby, 27, who is accused of smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali on October 8 last year, has begged Mr Howard to act in the interest of justice, saying she is innocent.

Corby's Australian lawyer Robin Tampoe said he was delighted the government's letter said alleged drug smugglers were at Sydney Airport the day Corby passed through on her way to Bali.

"We were very happy with the letter that we received from (Foreign Minister) Mr (Alexander) Downer's office, extremely happy with the contents of it," he told ABC radio.

"We asked for the letter on Thursday and I think by Friday evening we had it, so we're ecstatic with what Mr Howard has done for us."

The president of the Law Council of Australia, John North, also praised the government for taking the unusual step of writing such a letter.

"The Law Council is pleased that the Australian government is sending the letter to possibly assist an Australian citizen facing life imprisonment and it is to be hoped that it is not too late," he told ABC radio.

"It's fairly unusual (for the government to write such a letter) because circumstances were obviously meant to be kept secret until the alleged cocaine ring (at the airport) had been broken.

"But it is absolutely vital in Schapelle Corby's case that the government move quickly because her trial was nearly at an end."

- AAP