March 30
AUSTRALIA/INDONESIA:
AUSTRALIANS PAY BRIBE TO VISIT CORBY IN BALI PRISON
The Corby drug trial has become Bali's latest tourist attraction.
Australians are taking time off to lend moral support to Schapelle Corby.
As Corby arrived at Denpasar District Court yesterday, for the final day
of defence evidence, a group of Australian wellwishers looked on and
expressed sympathy and amazement. A Sydney judge and her magistrate friend
- both of whom requested anonymity - said they had set aside time, to
observe how the Indonesian court was handling the high-profile case.
Australians came out of sympathy for a fellow Australian and also to see
the Indonesian justice system at work, so they can warn our children to
lock their luggage if they come to Bali.
Darwin footballers from the Northern Territory Football League team, The
Waratahs, have also visited Corby in jail. The players said Corby was
cheerful, although facing the death penalty if convicted. Several of the
players also sat in, on her trial.
"She's an Aussie in trouble and we wanted to give her our support," Shane
Carroll said.
Corby told the players her only amusement had been playing on a run-down
tennis court inside the compound. But convicted Bali bomber Amrozi, whose
cell is next to the court, persuaded authorities to stop her because he
objected to women taking part in sport. "Corby feels a bit uncomfortable
being so close to the Bali bombers," Mr Carroll said.
The football players were on a club end-of-season trip when they visited
Corby in jail, three times. They took her a hamper, which included her
favourite lollipops, cakes and cigarettes. The players met Corby in the
jail visitors' room and did not see her cell.
Mr Carroll said the Bali jail made Darwin Prison, "look like the Hilton".
"The Bali jail is very run-down. There are no comforts. She's kept her
sense of humour. She knows it's high stakes now. She'll be set free,
executed or serve a very long prison sentence. She says Bali has been the
worst holiday of her life. The jail sentences over there are much harsher
than in Australia." said Mr Carroll.
Corby herself has been amazed at the number of Aussie wellwishers turning
up in court as well as to Bali's notorious Kerobokan Prison, where a
10,000 rupiah ($1.50) bribe will get them past the prison guards to visit
her. "It helps keep Schapelle going," her sister Mercedes said.
Bali is awash with drugs and is known to be the drug capital of Asia. It
is obvious that no one is bringing marijuana to Bali because it is not
cost-effective. However, unlike the 85% of Australians who voted in a Sky
News Poll recently, most Indonesians think Corby is guilty and are calling
for her death sentence.
Justice is strange. They must have a kangaroo court system in Bali.
Mastermind Bashir gets a slap on the wrist for inciting the Bali bombers
to kill 202 people (including 88 Australians) and maim many others for
life, while an Australian woman locked up in a Bali jail faces the firing
squad for allegedly smuggling weeds.
(source: Australian Coalition Against the Death Penalty)
