Schapelles Book My Story:

Schapelles Book My Story will be in stores in New Zealand on Wednesday November 15th, cost will be $40 NZ.

At the time of making this statement, Colonel Sugiarto was the head of the Balinese drug squad. He made several admissions that revealed a number of flaws in the case against Schapelle Corby. In one statement, Colonel Sugiarto said to Channel Nine [Australian Television] that there were some weaknesses in the case .

On Indonesian television, he further commented that there was a lack of television footage at the Bali airport when Schapelle arrived in October 2004. Colonel Sugiarto said there were other gaps in the prosecutions case. He concluded that the Schapelle Corby case was only 50% investigated because of difficulties with fingerprinting. These difficulties arose because the Indonesian police failed to wear protective gloves whilst handling the evidence.

Effectively, they contaminated the evidence to such an extent that it could never be verified either way, if Schapelle or anyone else had handled it. The case against Schapelle Corby should have been convincingly in doubt.

On 9 December 2004, two months following Schapelle's arrest, the Indonesian News Digest reported comments made by the Jakarta Legal Aid foundation (LBH) stating that the law enforcement agencies are incapable of upholding human rights in Indonesia and urged the government to reactivate the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Of course, in accordance with the ICCPR, there would be several clear violations of the articles relating to the Schapelle Corby case. For one, pre-investigations that are only ever half completed, to contaminated evidence and heresay, certainly do not constitute justice.

Another Australian Woman is in Trouble in Bali:

Michelle Leslie Is Now Free "

She was sentenced to three months in jail but, due to the three months already spent in custody, was freed from Kerobokan prison at about 1PM on 19 November 2005. Indonesian immigration officials announced the she would be deported from the country due to her guilty conviction.

Partygoers in Bali nightclubs will now be subjected to random drug tests as well as searches, so look out for more arrests.

What Bali is saying to tourists is, come here and we will put you in jail for along time. So to all tourist DO NOT GO TO BALI as you may be next.

August 24th, 2006 Schapell is back in Court today for the start of her appeal.

October 08th Schapelle has been in a Indonesian prison for one year just another 19 years to go. I hope not I hope she get out soon.

September 10th Fresh Corby appeal hopes fade
Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby's appeal hopes are in doubt after Indonesia's highest court refused to intervene in her case so potential witnesses from Australia could testify via videolink.

We will know in October 2005 some time if The High Court is going to re-open Schapelle appeal  for the second time.

Schapelle is back in Court on Wednesday 3rd of August for the start of  her appeal. It look like they have got all of the witnesses. I hope she get her Freedom.

Schapelle has received a two-week extension of her appeal so her defense team can gather more witnesses from Australia. Her appeal proceedings will reopen on August 3

The Corby's family have ask the supporters NOT to boycott Bali or Indonesia

Why?

The powers that be-and I'm talking about  the powers in charge of Schapelle,s sentencing -consider an organized boycott to be a threat to the Balinese people and Indonesia in general.

They WILL retaliate for organized boycotts by refusing to budge on the 20 year sentence handed to Schapelle when the appeals case is being decided.

If you care about getting Schapelle home soon PLEASE DO NOT BOYCOTT BALI.

The Corby family HAVE asked supporters to BOYCOTT QANTAS and AUSTRALIAN AIRLINES. If you must boycott anyone- boycott them.

This matter is of crucial importance in downward negotiation of the sentence which will be handed down to Schapelle.

So we must respect of the corby family's wishes.

Please Remind you friends and workmates about schapelle.What has happened to her could so easily happen to you!

I ask that Indonesian Free Schapelle Corby today . What Indonesian and Bali is doing to Schapelle Corby is  not right.

I would not trust Air New Zealand baggage handlers at all.

Also I would be demanding that baggage handlers now have to be like security guards, they must be registered with the police or at least with airport security (not just average employees or contractors) must have a clean police record from the past, full surveillance in the baggage areas,etc etc.

Also Indonesian authorities have a history of murdering innocent foreigners in 1975 they murder 2 Australian & 2 British and 1 New Zealand there was no trial no evidence and no jury.

I feel so sorry for Schapelle and so angry at what they are doing to her in Bali.

Like I have sad to the Aussie I can smell a rat in this case and they agree with me as the Prosecutors say she was Caught Red handed so there was not need to fingerprint the bag Marijuana Bag this is a load of rubbish as any one could put it in her bag ask yourself Why Victorian prisoner John Ford that gave evidence in the Schapelle Corby case has been stabbed in the stomach by other prisoners in the past .The lawyer said the attacks were a direct result of Ford's participation in the Corby drugs case in Bali I can Smell a rat I think he know who put the Marijuana in Schapelle Corby bag. 

This fight will never be over until she walks free and acquitted of all charges.
 

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Please Pardon Schapelle Corby and let her go  she Doesn't Deserve to do time something she did not do.

Schapelle is coming home to Australia very soon.

The Australian public has heard little of Corby's husband, whose name was changed in the magazine article.

The 32-year-old revealed how he did not know his ex-wife was confined to an Indonesian jail cell, despite talking to Corby on the telephone in October.

"I can't believe this has happened. It was a very strange phone call. She asked after my family and told me her father was very sick. She kept repeating herself," he said.

The Japanese man said he met Corby in a Gold Coast supermarket, where he was working as a cashier while on holiday and was charmed by her ability to speak his language.

The pair were married a few months later, in June 1998, at the city hall in the Japanese surf town of Omaezaki.

Corby agreed to live in the town, on the east coast of Japan, and while she had previously worked in Japan the lovestruck Australian found it hard to settle into life as a Japanese wife and the pair was eventually divorced.

Friends said the life the couple were living in their small beachside apartment - where Corby did bar work in a traditional Japanese inn and her husband worked on a tea plantations - was lonely for Corby.

Yoshie Matsuo, a neighbour who lived beneath the couple, said Corby had few friends in the isolated community.

"She didn't have many friends here. She must have been very lonely. I feel so sorry for her. I had no idea," the neighbour said.

With Corby facing the death penalty or life behind bars, the former husband, who said he could not recall the good times he had with Corby, said she did not deserve either punishment.

"She is a human being who doesn't deserve to die or spend her life in prison," he said.

The writer is chief editor of The Jakarta Post.

That list included a demand for the Australian Government to immediately produce "the owner of the (4.1kg) of marijuana" found in Ms Corby's boogie board bag at Denpasar Airport, along with "the person who put the marijuana in" the former Gold Coast beauty student's luggage.

These requests, characterised by Australian officials as totally unrealistic, were contained in a letter sent to the Australian Government on June 10. This was followed on June 16 by another letter from Mr Hutapea in similar terms.

Among the other demands from Ms Corby's Indonesian lawyers were:

THE Australian Government produce two Victorian jail inmates allegedly overheard by another inmate as saying the drugs were planted on Ms Corby.

THE Australian Government produce the officer in charge of luggage check-in at

Brisbane airport and the officer in charge of CCTV cameras at Brisbane and Sydney airports.

THE Government produce the Customs chief from Brisbane Airport and the chiefs of baggage handling at Sydney and Brisbane airports.

Senator Ellison went through the motions of responding but most of the demands had been made by Ms Corby's original legal team before her initial hearing.

"They were just repeating demands they already knew could not be met," one senior Government source said.

Nevertheless, Senator Ellison told Ms Corby's new Indonesia lawyers the Victorian jail inmates could not be sent to Bali without a formal request from the Indonesian Government under what are known as international "mutual assistance" agreements. Despite Mr Hutapea's reputation in Jakarta as a top-flight lawyer, the Australian Government is concerned he apparently does not understand this basic fact of law.

The Australian prisoners would also have to consent to the process for it to go ahead, limiting the Australian Government's scope for action.

The other demands generally concern people and material outside the Australian Government's jurisdiction – notably the airlines and privately run airports.

The two Perth QCs put at Ms Corby's disposal for free are now describing themselves as "window dressing" in Ms Corby's defence.

However, Mr Hutapea, who always carries a revolver, is going down the celebrity route in order, he says, to galvanise Indonesian public opinion in favour of Ms Corby.

Australian Government officials unfamiliar with the Indonesian judicial system are genuinely bemused as to whether this approach will work.

Says one: "The Australian Government can't dictate to Ms Corby who she has representing her. But at the end of the day it looks as if her Indonesian team has rejected our two QCs."

Schapelle Birthday on July 10th:

Schapelle will not be celebrating her birthday Schapelle will remain 27 until she get her freedom and returns home to Australia.  

August 18, 2006 Schapelle Corby has had her 20 year jail sentence reduced by two months.Bali Nine member Renae Lawrence has been granted a one month reduction.The remissions have been granted to mark Independence Day in Indonesia.Corby's reduction means she will now be released in August 2024.Some believe the 29 year old's sentence could be further reduced at Christmas.It's an Indonesian tradition to cut jail terms on holidays.

August 11, 2006 The final appeal of convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will be heard in Bali next week. Corby's lawyer has applied for a judicial review of his client's 20 year prison sentence. Corby has long maintained her innocence after 4.1 kilograms of marijuana was found in her boogie board bag in 2004. The theory proposed in her defence was that baggage handlers planted the drugs. Corby faces no risk of having her sentence increased, as a judicial review only has the power to maintain or reduce the term.

March 18, 2006 Indonesian police have destroyed the evidence in Schapelle's case. Schapelle's boogie board and its bag, as well as the 4.1 kg of cannabis that was planted in it, were burned in a ritualistic sort of event that took place in the car park of the Bali prosecutor's office. Schapelle's lawyers had tried unsuccessfully to stop the evidence from being burned, as it could have been used in Schapelle's defense if her case was reopened.

January 25, 2006 Schapelle's mother, Rosleigh Rose, revealed that Indonesian customs officers offered a bribe to Schapelle that she turned down. When Schapelle was first detained in Bali after the cannabis was found in her luggage, Indonesian customs officers handed her phone numbers and hinted that "something could be worked out". However, Schapelle and her sister Mercedes simple said "No... it's not hers" because they knew Schapelle was innocent all along and did not realize how absurd the Indonesian justice system was.

January 21, 2006 Schapelle burst into tears upon hearing that her sentence has been increased, according to her lawyer Erwin Siregar: "She is angry, she is crying and I think it's normal for somebody, this marijuana does not belong to her and then she gets 20 years." Siregar also said that Schapelle will not be asking for a presidential pardon because "Especially for a drugs case, 99 per cent [of the time] the president will refuse...The second reason not to ask [for a] pardon from the President is she must say that she's guilty and she is not."

Siregar says he will launch an "extraordinary appeal" for judicial review based on new evidence in the case. He plans to fly to Brisbane to interview Schapelle's half-brother, James Kisina, who is facing charges stemming from the robbery of a drug dealer. In October 2004 in Bali, Kisina carried the boogie board bag to the customs desk before it was found to be containing cannabis. However, Kisina claims that he was never involved in drug smuggling and that the home invasion he carried out this week on drug dealers was done because he thought they had information regarding his sister's case.

Meanwhile, the Australian government has said that it is pressing Indonesia to finalize a prisoner transfer deal that would allow Schapelle to be transferred to an Australian prison for part of her sentence. However, the Indonesians seem to be stalling negotiations.

December 15, 2005 Schapelle's mother is flying to Adelaide today, where she will request to see the photos held by South Australian police commissioner Mal Hyde. She said that: "I am coming to Adelaide to see the photos and get some bloody answers...The story has confused a lot of people and done a lot of damage. Seeing the photos is the only way I can 100 per cent prove this story is a beat-up."

December 13, 2005 Schapelle's mother, Rosleigh Rose, thinks that she mistakenly arranged for Schapelle to be photographed with an alleged drug dealer. When Schapelle's mother and her partner Greg were in Bali during Schapelle's trial, two Australian men named Don and Mal befriended them at a Bali restaurant and asked if they could meet Schapelle. The family complied and the two men accompanied them on their next visit to the prison, where the men were photographed with Schapelle. Schapelle's mother had no idea that they were alleged drug dealers until the they were arrested in South Australia.

December 10, 2005 The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that photographs of Schapelle with an alleged cannabis dealer were found in South Australia. The revelation has made the Bali prosecutors even more bloodthirsty than they were before, and they are likely to demand an increased sentence in her appeal. Schapelle's legal team, however, is maintaining her innocence. Hotman Paris Hutapea, her lead defense counsel, has stated that the photographs' relevance is being exaggerated: "I'm not worried, I'm still confident and I believe the sentence will not be more than the current sentence, even less. Legally, the photos are not admissible as evidence, but they may affect the personal thinking of the judges" but Hotman added that the photographs were poor evidence "You could have your photo taken with drug dealers, you never know, until years later someone brings those photos out. It doesn't make you guilty of a crime." Schapelle is currently appealing her sentence to Indonesia's supreme court, which may take three to six months to decide if they will to hear the appeal. Whether she is guilty or innocent, 15+ years in a squalid prison for importing a euphoric plant is deranged and ridiculous.

November 15, 2005 Living conditions in Schapelle's cell have deteriorated. There are now 13 people crammed into the cell that is 4m by 3m in size, about the same area as a child's bedroom.

October 26, 2005 Schapelle's defense team will launch an appeal to the Indonesian supreme court next week. They will ask the judges to hear new evidence from the Bali police chief who said evidence in Schapelle's first trial had been contaminated, Australian witnesses with knowledge of the drug lord behind the cannabis found, and would question police about a missing 0.6 kg of marijuana that was part of the earlier find but disappeared while in Indonesian police custody.

October 14, 2005 Schapelle collapsed into tears and began crying uncontrollably as she was told her first appeal resulted in 15 years imprisonment. Erwin Siregar, her lawyer who broke the bad news to her, said that "She was really crying, and just asking why, why, why...She's angry, and she blames the Australian Government for not helping her....She told me not to wait at all before we file our appeal in the Supreme Court, but to just go straight in. That's why I'm flying to Jakarta, and tomorrow we'll meet with Hotman." Erwin also said that he was concerned that the anguish Schapelle is going through in prison is bringing her to the breaking point: "I'm really worried for her health. I mean, I think she'll kill herself if she's forced to do 15 years." Though the defense team acknowledges that Schapelle is completely innocent, they intent to pursue the strategy of "reasonable doubt" in their appeal to the Supreme Court.

October 13, 2005 Schapelle's lawyers have been informed that the Bali high court will reduce her sentence, but only by 5 years, which leaves Schapelle still imprisoned for a whopping 15 years. Schapelle's sister, Mercedes, has said that the sentence will be appealed immediately because "She didn't do it. She should be free." Schapelle's lawyers are going to meet with Schapelle to talk about a possible appeal to the Supreme Court in Jakarta. Hotman Hutapea, her chief counsel, has said that the current sentence is "inhuman", and that he will appeal to the Jakarta court if the prosecution does, while another lawyer, Erwin Siregar, has said that they will make a new request to allow videoconference testimony from Australia.

October 8, 2005 As of today, Schapelle has been in an Indonesian prison for one year. She marked the dismal anniversary alone.

September 27, 2005 The Bali high court has requested a 30-day extension for its deliberations in Schapelle's appeal. Hotman Hutapea, Schapelle's lawyer, said that the delay was caused by a legal conference in Bali, but added "I don't want to speculate too much, because we could be fighting for Corby's life...I don't want to criticise the court."

September 23, 2005 A report by a British transport expert has found that security at Australian airports is grossly insufficient. The federal government has accepted the report and agreed to apply a $200 million upgrade to airport security. Schapelle's Indonesian counsel, Hotman Paris Hutapea, intends to present the report to the Indonesian judges who will make the ruling in her appeal case. The report bolsters Schapelle's defense which has been aiming to prove the cannabis was placed in her luggage without her knowledge by baggage handlers involved in an inter-city drug trade.

September 13, 2005 Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby's appeal hopes are in doubt after Indonesia's highest court refused to intervene in her case so potential witnesses from Australia could testify via videolink.
Corby's legal team said today the peak Supreme Court in Jakarta has refused a defence request to order a lower appellate court in Bali to reopen Corby's trial to hear videolink evidence on who placed 4.1kg of marijuana in Corby's unlocked luggage last year.
The Supreme Court said it was up to the lower Bali High Court to decide itself whether to accept videolink evidence.
Defence lawyer Haposan Sihombing said the Bali High Court was almost certain to reject the request in a ruling expected soon.
"By my analysis, it's impossible for the teleconference to be held," he told AAP.
"Probably the case will be decided between now and September 20, and my feeling says most likely this week."
The defence team has asked the Bali High Court to reverse a 20-year jail term given to Corby by the Denpasar District Court at the end of her trial in May.
A later trial reopening heard evidence from Qantas ground staff but failed to sway the trial judges to reverse the guilty verdict.
The defence had hoped to use a videolink to allow witnesses linked to the drug trade to testify from Australia rather than in person in Bali where they would run the risk of prosecution under Indonesian law.
There has been speculation that if the Bali High Court refuses to overturn Corby's conviction, it might reduce her sentence.
Indonesia appeal rulings are not announced in open court but are released on paper. 
If as expected the High Court does not free Corby, the defence team has promised a final appeal in Indonesia's Supreme Court in Jakarta.   
But flamboyant lead lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea has hinted he may dump Corby's case before it moves to Jakarta, because it is costing him too much in terms of lost earnings and political headaches amid rows with Australia's government.   
Many legal experts also believe the Supreme Court would be less likely than the Bali court to order Corby go free.

August 26, 2005 Schapelle's lawyers met with Bali high court judges today, though exactly what they talked about remains private.

Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's lawyer, has hinted earlier that the Bali high court will reopen Schapelle's trial, to allow new witnesses to testify by video-link from Australia. Hotman told reporters "All I can say is that I work very hard".

August 23, 2005 Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's defense counsel, expects a decision on her appeal to occur next week. The verdict was delayed because one judge on the Bali High court was sent to "refresher judge training" course in Jakarta. Hotman has also said that Schapelle's sentence is extreme, citing another Indonesian case where a man with 161 kg of cannabis was only sentenced to 10 years. Hotman: "Of course we believe she is innocent and should be freed, but under the circumstances I find that a 20-year sentence is extremely heavy and unprecedented in our country for marijuana. I am writing to the Supreme Court in Jakarta about the severity of this sentence in a case that many of us think should never have even reached the court stage." He also criticized Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer for publicly commenting on rumors about a reduction in Schapelle's sentence, saying that the comments damages the chances of her appeal's success.

Also, another Australian, Michelle Leslie, is potentially facing 15 years imprisonment for two ecstasy pills found in her handbag.

August 20, 2005 There are rumors that the Bali High Court is going to slash Schapelle's jail sentence in half. However, Schapelle's defense team has dismissed the rumors, saying that Schapelle's total freedom is their only goal and that rumor-mongering will not help them in doing so. The Bali High Court has until August 28 to issue a decision on Schapelle's first appeal and/or reopen hearings to allow videolink testimony from Australia, though it can also choose to postpone its decision for another 30 days. The recent sentence reduction of Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of the Bali bombers who killed nearly 100 Australians in 2002, sparked a string of protests by the Australian government against Indonesia. The reduction of Bashir's 2 year sentence for the mass slaughter by four months sparked widespread outrage, especially in contrast to Schapelle's brutal 20 year imprisonment for importing a euphoria-inducing plant, which she did not deliberately do to begin with.

August 16, 2005 Schapelle's defense team has said that they will investigate claims by Qantas Airlines that some images have been forensically retrieved from security-camera tapes at Brisbane airport. Erwin Siregar, her lawyer, says he has just been informed of the claim and will follow-up on it. Qantas has also released some figures regarding the amount of known baggage tampering by employees at its airports; in the past three years alone, Qantas has received 1300 reports of theft from checked baggage.

August 14, 2005 Qantas has claimed that is has retrieved images from closed-circuit cameras at Brisbane airport's check-in hall that could be useful to Schapelle's defense. Forensic computer experts from the audit firm KPMG were able to retrieve some images on camera tapes that had been overwritten, though they were not able to ascertain the date and time of the images. Qantas claims that it offered these tapes to Schapelle's lawyers but they received no response.

Also, a federal aviation security inquiry has heard testimony from members of the Australian and International Pilots Association; the pilots said that screening of airport employees who have access to the tarmac and aircraft is thoroughly inadequate: "That's the whole hypocrisy of it. You'll have someone who is unscreened who is handling baggage that has been screened."

August 6, 2005 Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's defense counsel, and AU Senator Chris Ellison met in Jakarta. Ellison has alleged that Hotman wanted to have his trademark pistol and several armed bodyguards accompany him to the meeting. Hotman denied the claim: "I was checked by security at the hotel door and we never had any discussion about the pistol. I left my pistol in the car," and referring to Ellison as a "total liar" whose claims were "totally bullshit"; he also accused Ellison of "trying to destroy Corby's legal team and destroy Corby".

To cut through the fiery word games, I think what happened was this: Prior to arriving at the Jakarta hotel, Hotman's office had been negotiating with Ellison's over whether or not Hotman would bring the trademark pistol that he always carries (like it was a wallet). It was agreed to by both parties that he would not, so Hotman arrived without the pistol and had an uneventful meeting with Ellison. Why Ellison would bring up the pistol negotiations to the media after the meeting makes little sense; it was probably a political ploy to discredit Hotman Hutapea and therefore alleviate pressure on the Australian government.

During the actual meeting, all that is known is that Hotman and Ellison talked about the necessary paperwork in Schapelle's case, and Hotman also accused Ellison of not providing sufficient help in facilitating videolink testimony.

August 5, 2005 Schapelle's legal team has lodged an application with the Bali High Court for another hearing that will encompass video-linked testimony from witnesses in Australia.

The application states that videolink testimony is permitted under Indonesian law, and that there is legal precedent for its use: teleconferencing was used during the trial of the Bali bombers.

New witnesses on defense team's wish-list include five staff at Sydney airport who were monitoring X-ray machines on the day Schapelle flew to Bali, and William Miller, who claimed to be mildly involved in the smuggling operation.

The application also stated that the Victorian prisoner "Paul" – who has fingered Ronnie Vigenser as the drug's owner – has dropped his demand to wear a mask during testimony, though he will still only testify by videolink.

Meanwhile, Schapelle's defense counsel Hotman Paris Hutapea has met with AU Senator Chris Ellison in Jakarta.

Ellison has sent a letter to the Bali High Court, saying that the Australian government can facilitate video-linked testimony from witnesses.

Ellison also said that a request to have an Australian federal police officer testify about an airport drug-smuggling operation that was using the airport on the same day as Schapelle travelled to Bali had been passed onto the AFP and was awaiting a response.

Another one of Schapelle's lawyers - Erwin Siregar – has estimated that there is a 60 percent chance that the Indonesian court will reopen Schapelle's appeal.

August 4, 2005 Schapelle's first appeal has been effectively shut down by the Denpasar District Court. Indonesian judge Linton Sirait refused to allow the defense team any more time to hear new witnesses. The new evidence that was already presented by the defense now goes to the Bali High Court for an formal ruling to be made; the High Court can reopen hearings once again if it deems fit.

Schapelle wept at the decision and was escorted distraught back to her cell at Kerobokan prison.

Earlier in the hearing, her defense counsel Hotman Paris Hutapea had presented several pieces of new evidence to establish reasonable doubt and/or innocence:

First, Hotman showed that the police had tampered with the marijuana and contaminated the evidence. The bag of cannabis had been weighed earlier at 4.1 kg, but when Hotman weighed it in court today, the bag only weighed 3.6 kg - showing that over 500g of drugs had disappeared while in police custody. This demonstrates yet again that the police failed in their investigation and that the process that convicted Schapelle is not credible.

Secondly, two witnesses from Qantas airlines - Howard Parr and Ricky Clark - testified that they had noticed nothing unusual about Schapelle's luggage when she left it with them at Brisbane airport. Clark said that if there had been any smell of cannabis, the luggage would have been rejected. Computer records at Brisbane airport documented nothing suspicious about Schapelle's luggage when it was checked-in. However, the workers' testimony was undermined when they were unable to recognize a boogie board bag with drugs in it when showed one in court.

After the hearing, Hotman left for Jakarta where he will try to meet AU Senator Chris Ellison to talk about the case.

Hotman mocked the Australian government again in court, saying that he had wrote everybody in Australia except for "the kangaroo and Kylie Minogue", and received no substantial help from them.

In what may be an even more devesating blow, another Indonesian judge - Gusti Lingga - has also stated that any new witnesses must testify in Bali in person, and not by videolink.

Lingga singled out "former" drug lord Ronnie Vigenser as a key witness in freeing Schapelle, but also threatened to prosecute him: "Vigenser must be heard directly because aside from being a witness he could be charged for his actions in smuggling the marijuana into Indonesia"

August 3, 2005 Schapelle's appeal will be reopened today in Bali. Two Qantas check-in employees are expected to testify; their testimony will establish that there was nothing suspicious about Schapelle's luggage and increase reasonable doubt. Either today or tomorrow, Schapelle's defense team will request another extension to allow them time to arrange the testimony of "Paul" – a Victorian prisoner who has named "former" drug kingpin Ronnie Vigenser as the owner of the cannabis. As well:

Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's defense counsel, has offered to meet Senator Chris Ellison in Bali.

Hotman also rejected accusations by Ellison that Schapelle's lawyers had not done sufficient paperwork to free Schapelle. Hotman brandished a huge folder of papers he had sent to the Australian government: "This is all my letters to your Government so if they said we haven't done much, that's bullshit. This is all my letters because all we want is the witness."

Hotman sent another request to the Australian government yesterday asking for videolink facilities to be set up by allowing the Victorian prisoner "Paul" to testify from Melbourne; Hotman also requested that an AFP officer testify about the arrest of a cocaine syndicate that was using the airport to transport cocaine on the same day Schapelle's flight left for Bali, and NSW officer Jason Breton to testify about a 2001 report he wrote about organized crime in Australian airports.

Schapelle is also reported to be in tears because she felt "abandoned and left alone" by the Australian government.

August 2, 2005 Schapelle's defense counsel, Hotman Paris Hutapea, is now entering final preparations for the reopening of Schapelle's trial:

Hotman is now in Bali meeting with two Qantas staff, a check-in attendant and a baggage handler from Brisbane, who will testify at her appeal there was nothing suspicious about Schapelle's luggage when she left it with them.

It is unclear as to whether Lt-Col. Bambang Sugiarto - the chief of Bali's drug squad - will testify. There has also been talk of a NSW police officer testifying, but he may have backed out at the last minute.

Hotman has ripped into Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison: "Your government makes me sick, makes me crazy, and I don't understand how come a government like this exists. One and a half months I fight for this, I don't receive any telephone calls from any government, even your embassy here. I do good things for your own citizens here, pro bono, none of your government, even your embassy in Jakarta, call us."

Hotman has also rejected an offer by Ellison to meet in Jakarta, calling it a political ploy made at a time when Hotman is too busy in Bali meeting with Qantas witnesses. Hotman is furious: "He (Ellison) knows I will be in Bali preparing for the trial, not in Jakarta. He should come to see me. He knows we are in Bali. Maybe is he coming to pretend to do something, to show to the public they are trying to do something...."

Later Hotman continued: "Ellison pretends he wants to see the team lawyers in Jakarta on Tuesday because he knows we can't make it, because we are in Bali for the hearing...Ellison is nothing for me, I must meet Qantas witnesses on Tuesday morning. The witnesses are more important. Ask him to come to Bali."

Ellison responded by saying that Hotman had not answered inquiries from his office, including whether or not the Indonesian courts would accept video-link evidence. (Note: It is my understanding that the Indonesian courts can legally accept videolink evidence, but that arrangements for it must be made at the reopened hearings.)

Outside the Hotman v. Ellison case, another one of Schapelle's lawyers, Erwin Siregar, has lodged a request with the Bali court for another three-week extension to allow the defense team to arrange video testimony from a Victorian prisoner named "Paul" (see below for details). Siregar said he had one request for Ellision: "Give an immunity and get ready for a teleconference".  Meanwhile, Hotman has decided not to seek testimony from William Miller, who claimed to be a part of an Brisbane-Sydney drug smuggling operation, saying that Miller was not credible because he had sought money for his story from the Australian press.

August 1, 2005 Schapelle Corby's lawyer says he will be too busy tomorrow to meet with Justice Minister Chris Ellison, following reports he's snubbed an offer of help.
Hotman Paris Hutapea reportedly says Mr Ellison should travel to Bali if he wishes to assist the case.
Corby's trial will be reopened on Wednesday in the Denpasar District Court.
Two Qantas employees are expected to testify at the hearing.
Mr Hutapea says he's lost faith in Australia's willingness to help the 28 year old.

July 30, 2005  Chris Ellison, AU Justice Minister, has written to Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's defense counsel, saying that essential paperwork to set up video-link facilities and/or arrange transportation for witnesses have yet to be filed. Ellison has offered to meet Schapelle's lawyers early next week to finalize arrangements. Note: It's my impression that Hotman intends to seek another extension from the court when hearings reopen to allow him to arrange the new witnesses' testimony. Also, 2/3 Australian commercial television networks have encountered delays in obtaining working visas in Indonesia; this means they will probably not have camera crews or journalists to cover the reopening of Schapelle's trial.

July 29, 2005 A new witness – a Victorian prisoner identified only as "Paul" – has come forward as a witness in Schapelle Corby's defense. The prisoner identifies Ronnie Vigenser  as the owner of the drugs in Schapelle's bag, recalling a conversation he heard Vigenser having at Port Philip Prison. According to a signed statement given to Australian federal police, Vigenser was angry that his marijuana had ended up in Bali, loudly fumigating "Fuck Schapelle Corby, she fucking cost me four kilos of smoke."

The statement by the witness was given to AFP in Melbourne and a copy was sent to Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's defense counsel. Hotman is demanding that Ronnie Vigenser be immediately arrested.

The witness "Paul" has stated that he will only give evidence by videolink from Australia. Hotman will request a second extension to Schapelle's appeal to facilitate his testimony. Under Indonesian law, at least one judge, prosecutor, and defense lawyer will have to travel to Melbourne to be present when "Paul" delivers his testimony by videophone to the Bali court. "Paul" also said he had known Vigenser for a long time and could identify him if needed. 

Schapelle's family has sold their Gold Coast fish-and-chips shop to pay for staggering legal costs in Schapelle's trial, travel fair to Bali, and even living expenses. 

William Miller, another witness who claims that he was supposed to pick-up the cannabis from a baggage handler at Sydney airport, will only give evidence by satellite video if he receives immunity: "I'm not going to Bali, I would be shot."

Meanwhile, the Indonesian prosecutor of Schapelle - Ida Bagus Wiswantanu – has demanded that Miller not be allowed to give evidence at Schapelle's appeal: "The witness has no credibility… I will ask the court to refuse to hear his testimony."

Hotman Hutapea is also trying to discern whether or not Miller is the same Sydney witness he has spoken to on numerous occasions by telephone. Hutapea has said that it may be a case of mistaken identity, where Miller and the man Hutapea has been communicating with are two different people.

Hotman insists that the only way he can discern who is credible and who is not is if immunity is granted by the Commonwealth DPP. Another one of Schapelle's lawyers, Erwin Siregar is attempting to convince the witness(es) to disclose their identity to Bugg. Hotman has said that the disclosure of the witness's identity to the DPP is the final step to gaining immunity: "The immunity deal is 90 per cent done. We just need to disclose the identity of the witness to the Commonwealth DPP."

July 27, 2005 Several developments in the search for witnesses in Schapelle's appeal:

Two Qantas employees that checked in Schapelle's luggage at Brisbane airport have agreed to testify in her defense; they will testify that there was nothing suspicious about her boogie board bag when she left it with them.

A Melbourne couple – identified only as Steve and Dee – have revealed that they discovered a package of cannabis when their luggage arrived in Bali several years ago, which was not placed there by them. Not knowing what to do, they contacted the Australian consulate that told them to flush the marijuana down a toilet. They are willing to testify about their experience, but only if they are reassured from the DPP that they will not face any charges as a result.

But…the Commonwealth DPP (Damian Bugg) has written Hotman Paris Hutapea (Schapelle's defense counsel) saying that he requires the complete names of any witnesses and the specific crimes they want immunity from before he can grant immunity.

Hotman repudiated Bugg saying that such actions would frighten off not only the witnesses who have already contacted him (primarily two men connected to Australian smuggling operations), but also anybody else with evidence showing Schapelle's innocence.

Hotman also was perplexed by the DPPs sluggish bureaucratic lethargy and rigid disinterest in Schapelle's plight, and how Bugg expected that an Indonesian lawyer would be able to know the specific details of the Australian legal code and which exact actions immunity was needed for. Hotman says: "The DPP is the expert on Australian criminal law, he should know what offences the man has committed if I say he is the one who was meant to receive the drugs (found in Corby's bag).

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph newspaper was approached by a prospective witnesses for Schapelle. The man - William Miller of Sydney, also known as William Moss – claims that he had been employed by a drug-dealing associate to pick-up the cannabis package from a baggage handler at Sydney airport. However, the baggage handler did not retrieve the package from Schapelle's luggage because he feared that he was being watched by police. Miller, left empty-handed, later received a call from his associate saying that the package had accidentally ended up in Schapelle's luggage in Bali, and to forget about it.

July 26, 2005  Schapelle's defense team has sent another immunity request for Australian witnesses to Prime Minister Howard and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Damian Bugg. It requests immunity for a Sydney man who claims to be the person who was to receive the marijuana when it arrived at Sydney Airport, as well as a Queensland man who claims to have information about who put the cannabis in Schapelle's bag. The men have agreed only to give the evidence by video-link from Australia – and only if they do not face prosecution as a result. This evidence would show the Indonesians that Schapelle was an innocent victim of a botched interstate smuggling ring in Australia, and as such it is extremely necessary that these witnesses are given immunity so they can testify.

July 24, 2005 Schapelle's defense team is continuing to try to ascertain immunity for Australian witnesses who have information that can show Schapelle's innocence. Chris Ellision, AU Justice Minister, has said that Hotman Paris Hutapea (Schapelle's counsel) should put in a request for immunity to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Hotman has previously put in immunity requests to the state DPP in Queensland and New South Wales, both of which have rejected the request saying that they did not have the power to grant immunity. Hotman has criticized the Australian government for its bureaucratic paralysis in granting immunity, recently suggesting that Chris Ellision should go back to law school.

Meanwhile the former drug lord accused of planting the cannabis in Schapelle's luggage - was beaten and robbed by a group of men outside Warringal Shopping Centre in Heidelberg. Vigenser has continually refused requests to give any information to Schapelle's defense.

July 23, 2005 A mix of developments are happening. A New South Wales man has called Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's lead counsel, and admitted placing the marijuana in Schapelle's luggage. The Director of Public Prosecutions in NSW and Queensland has been approached by Hotman requesting immunity for witnesses. They have not yet replied to his latest request, though earlier the NSW office has replied stating that only the federal government could grant immunity (after the feds had said only the DPP could grant immunity). A frustrated Hutapea has threatened to quit over the legal run-around by the Australian executive and bureaucracy, saying that "I am going to resign this case – I am thinking about quitting tomorrow – if they do not start helping.

July 21, 2005 Schapelle has received a two-week extension of her appeal so her defense team can gather more witnesses from Australia. Her appeal proceedings will reopen on August 3. Further developments:

Schapelle is begging anybody in Australia who has information that may free her to come forward as a witness, and that the Howard government help accommodate witness testimony. Schapelle pleaded: "My case is reopened again tomorrow and no one from Australia has come. I need the Australian government to help me here. My lawyers have been working so hard, so hard to get information, they've got information but no one can seem to help me. But I've been sentenced to 20 years, I'll be out when I'm 47, and I didn't do it and I don't know why this is happening and I just need someone to come and help me and get me out of here."

The only witness who testified in yesterday's hearings was University of Indonesia professor Indriyanto Seno Adji, who stated that the concept of reasonable doubt had been ignored in the earlier verdict. He testified that since Schapelle's luggage had been unlocked and out of her control for 12 hours, there is clearly insufficient evidence to say that she put the cannabis there. Adji said that though it is an "absolute" under Indonesian law for the intention of an act to be proven, the principle was rarely applied in Indonesia's loosely regulated court system. He also said that the testimony of Bali's customs officers should have never been allowed because they had no knowledge of how the drugs got into the luggage.

Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's defense lawyer, accused the Australian government of being inactive in helping Schapelle through witnesses and immunity: "The problem is none of your people and your government is proactive to save Corby." Chris Ellison, AU Justice Minister, responded by saying that immunity in Australia was a matter to be handled by the Director of Public Prosecutions and could be only offered to specific individuals. Schapelle's defense team desperately needs immunity for at least one mystery witness in Australia that has knowledge of the baggage handling smuggling operation that planted the drugs in Schapelle's luggage.

Schapelle's mother, Rosleigh Rose, has offered to reimburse witnesses for any legal or other costs that may result from their testimony: "All their expenses will be paid. If they want to get in contact with a decent lawyer, I will pay the bill. All the bills will be paid and if they take time off work they will be reimbursed their pay."

Hotman has received the names of ticketing and baggage personnel from Qantas and the Sydney Airport Authority that handled Schapelle's luggage. It has not known if they are willing to testify, however. Hotman is also trying to convince two New South Wales police officers to testify.

Hotman also released a photograph of the marijuana taken in the Bali customs office, showing the cannabis in clear, plastic bags. He holds that this shows Schapelle to be innocent, as it would be illogical to smuggle drugs through a foreign customs checkpoint without an opaque covering. Hotman says: "no matter how stupid somebody else is, nobody will send the marijuana like that in the open transparent plastic. It is very unlikely no matter how stupid because the criminal must also be worried about his (her) life.. Corby is not stupid, you can see that because she can debate well . . . I talked to Corby, I think she is one level below mine, a little bit but she is still smart. Open transparent plastic?

Also during the appeal today, Schapelle was nearly trampled by reporters on her way to court. Two photographers actually were knocked down in the melee.

July 20, 2005 Schapelle's appeal is set to begin later today. The following new information is available prior to its start:

An Australian man – connected to baggage handling - has contacted Schapelle's lawyers saying that he placed the marijuana in Schapelle's luggage, but that he will only testify if immunity is offered by the Australian government. The government has so far refused any requests to offer immunity.

An unnamed Australian police officer may testify about illegal activities at Australian airports. Negotiations are currently underway with the man and Schapelle's sister and lawyers. The former policeman worked security at Melbourne airport, and was an associate of Jeffrey Robert Milne (the chief baggage handler at the airport who was arrested in 2000 for drug trafficking). The officer is also reported to have connections with the Moran drug empire, and amphetamines smuggling between Melbourne and Perth airports. Schapelle's defense team has also been given the names of several current and former Victorian police officers who are said to have knowledge of smuggling by corrupt airport employees, and they are expected to be asked to testify.

Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's lawyer, has lashed out at Australian officials for abandoning Schapelle. Customs officers and Qantas check-in staff have refused to testify at the reopened hearing, as have two journalists. In regards to the Australian government, Hotman angrily said: "Your Government didn't approach them, basically nothing, they didn't do anything."

Hotman also expressed his displeasure at customs officials: "They say they don't remember anything more, but if it [Schapelle's luggage] was suspicious, they would have reported it to their bosses. Why can't they say that?"

So far, Schapelle's defense team plans to use the following evidence: testimony from an Indonesian academic stating that there was insufficient evidence to convict Schapelle of importation, and a cross-examination of Bali's drug squad chief about police failures in the investigation (including a lack of fingerprinting). Hotman also plans to present a news report on airline drug smuggling and a 2001 New South Wales police report "Policing Organised Crime at Airports" regarding drug smuggling at Sydney airport.

Schapelle's defense team plans to present the available evidence today and then request an adjournment to August 4, to allow them to gather more witnesses.

Meanwhile, Hotman is turning up the heat on the Howard government, which he accuses of refusing to help Schapelle for political reasons: "They say the only reason the Australian Government has not been proactive in lobbying is because they don't want the Corby case to be used by the Indonesian Government for leverage… The Australian Government thinks it's better to abandon Corby than to decrease their political bargaining." Still, Hotman plans to do his best to "submit proof of the rottenness of the security systems in various Australian airports involving thepolice and baggage handlers who slipped drugs into passengers' bags.

July 17, 2005 Schapelle is sick with worry that a lack of witnesses will torpedo the outcome of her appeal this week. Mercedes Corby, her sister, spoke with reporters after visiting Schapelle in Kerobokan jail; she said that Schapelle is experiencing stomach cramps due to the stress and that the pressure was having a visible detrimental effect on her well-being. In addition to fears over a lack of witnesses, Schapelle is worried about what's going to happen in court and dreads the bulk of media that will await her.

So far, Schapelle's legal team has only been able to get two witnesses to testify, both of them Indonesian. An Indonesian academic will testify about the technical legal meaning of "importing" and Bali's narcotics officer will testify about evidence contamination by investigating officers. Hotman Hutapea, her lawyer, aims to show that the earlier verdict ignored the concept of reasonable doubt and used a flawed definition of the concept of importing. Hotman is also trying in desperation to convince Les Kennedy, a Sydney Morning Herald reporter, to testify as an expert witness on baggage handler smuggling rings. The lack of other Australian witnesses has prompted Hotman to accuse "We have no Australian witnesses. You Australians are quick to criticise the Indonesian justice system but you have abandoned Corby". Qantas staff, "former" drug kingpin Ronnie Vigenza, the Australian police chief, and customs staff have all refused to testify at the appeal, and the Howard government has refused requests for immunity.

Additionally: the Gold Coast Bulletin has written an article on Schapelle's anguish in jail. Her movements are watched at by the Bali bombers, she is surrounded by despondent prisoners, crying children, drug addicts, AIDS carriers, walls covered with dirt and mould, up to 11 people in one cell, uneatable food, and thieves who steal her belongings.

July 15, 2005 Schapelle's legal team is struggling to find new witnesses on their own after the Australian government and police commissioner refused to help them. Hotman Hutapea has so far only convinced one new witness to testify – Indonesian legal expert Indriyanto Seno Adji – who will give evidence on police failures in the case and the principle of reasonable doubt. Hotman is now seeking testimony from Australian journalists who have investigated illegal activities at Australian airports; they include a crime reporter from a Sydney newspaper and an AAP journalist.

In other news, it was revealed that the Australian police are aware of inter-city drug smuggling in using the domestic airline system, and have been investigating it since 2003. This was made public at a trial of Hoang Chilong, who is accused of smuggling 13 kg of vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana from Adelaide to Sydney. It is not yet known if this will help the Schapelle's defense, which has stated that Schapelle is an unwitting victim of a baggage handler smuggling ring between Sydney and Brisbane.

Finally, Schapelle has told the press about the events that led to her being assailed by Indonesian prison guards; it has been published by the Gold Coast Bulletin and Don Reid of releaseschapelle.com .

July 14, 2005 Schapelle was pushed, dragged, and assaulted by Indonesian prison guards who attempted to showcase her in front of a media mob. A large cluster of journalists had been allowed to flow into the jail to cover the visit of Indonesian politicians and human rights inspectors; the inspectors were investigating the poor conditions at Kerobokan prison, including deficient nutrition of prison food and overcrowding, while the media simply wanted to get a shot of Schapelle. When Schapelle returned to her cell, she was distressed and angered by the mass of cameras hunting for her, so she fled to the prison visiting area and hid behind a desk waiting for the reporters to go away, occasionally popping her head up to see if they were gone. At this time, several male prison guards grabbed Schapelle, and pushed and dragged her into the area where she could be filmed by the media, despite her pleas for them to stop. She screamed at them "let me go, let me go", and to the media mob "go away", to little avail, as the photograph to the left shows.

There has been some speculation that Schapelle's mental health is deteriorating due to the massive stress placed on her in advance of reopened hearings that are slated to start on July 20. Hotman Hutapea, her defense team leader, has stated that the Australian government's refusal to assist may have ruined his case: "Can you tell me what is wrong with your Government? They said before they might consider immunity; now it's just terrible, totally terrible.... they just will not help. Any time they are put in a corner they try to give a new reason " Hotman continues to insist that Australian customs officials and baggage handlers must testify at her appeal as "implementation" of the information they gave during interviews.

July 13, 2005 One day after promising to take a "personal interest" in the case, the Howard government has pretty much abandoned Schapelle to the hands of the Indonesian courts. Earlier, Schapelle's lawyer Hotman Hutapea had made an urgent request to the government for witness immunity, saying That's the only solution, no other solution.Today, Justice/Customs Minister Chris Ellison refused, saying that the legal framework for immunity was not in place (to which I say, put the legal framework in place). To top that off, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mike Keetly also refused to testify as a witness, saying that he's not in a position to assist and that police commissioners just don't testify in court cases. (I think this is rubbish, considering that police/customs documents have been leaked showing evidence that baggage handler smuggling does occur.

July 12, 2005 Prime Minister Howard has responded to Schapelle's plea for help. But to cut through the dressed-up rhetoric he simply said "no." Howard said that the reopened hearings were a "welcome opportunity" to present new evidence, but then cited bureaucratic regulations as why he could not offer the requested assistance. Hotman Paris Hutapea, Schapelle's flamboyant lawyer, accused Howard of "procrastinating" - particularly in regards to an immunity deal for anybody who admitted placing the drugs in Schapelle's luggage. At this time, Schapelle's defense team only has two new witnesses to testify at the appeal hearings: both are from Indonesia, and not Australians.

July 11, 2005 The birthday rally for Schapelle was held yesterday with a crowd of about 100, including members of Schapelle's family. Michael Corby pleaded that the federal government and Qantas help his daughter: "What have they done? (Foreign Minister) Alexander Downer, (Justice Minister) Chris Ellison, (Attorney-General) Philip Ruddock . . . they've all been beating their gums. Let them come out and just say the truth about what they know about bloody airports."

Schapelle managed to send the following text message to the supporters: "Hello everyone, using a guard's phone for a sec . . . thanks to everyone for all this wonderful support. I hope you all have a great day. Each day is a gift so treat it like the present and say thanks. Cheers to people power, thank you all for thinking of me. Love Schapelle."

July 10, 2005 Today is Schapelle's 28th birthday. It's not exactly a happy one for obvious reasons, and to add insult to injury the Indonesians are not even allowing her to have any visitors on her birthday. Schapelle's mother will try to visit her daughter tomorrow.

July 9, 2005 Schapelle Corby will spend her 28th birthday tomorrow inside her Indonesian jail cell without a visit from family or friends, because Bali prison rules don't allow visitors on Sundays.
The Australian was sentenced to 20 years in an Indonesian jail in May, after being caught with 4.1 kilograms of marijuana in her luggage at Denpasar airport last October.
She maintains she knew nothing about the drugs, and will appeal the sentence in the Bali High Court on July 20th.
She has told family members she is refusing to age behind bars and will remain 27 until she is released.
Meanwhile, a rally for Schapelle will be held on the Gold Coast tomorrow in a show of support for the convicted drug smuggler.

July 8, 2005 Two new individuals have been added to the list of witnesses that Schapelle's defense team wants to call to testify: they are Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty and a 37-year-old Sydney man arrested trying to take $60,000 worth of cocaine on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne. Meanwhile, Corby lawyers have requested an extension be granted to allow them to assemble witnesses and evidence together; they are asking that the hearings be pushed back to at least August 5. And the excuses made by the Australian government are getting increasingly more pathetic, saying that they cannot provide a "silver bullet" to the defense. Well, nobody's asking you for a "silver bullet" - we're not fighting werewolves here - but simply access to public officials, police data, airport staff, and other evidence is known to exist and is connected to the case.

July 7, 2005 July the 20th has been set as the date for the re-opening of Schapelle Corby's drugs trial.
It gives the defence team 14 days to find new witnesses to back her claim of innocence.
They want at least a dozen people to appear, including Australian prisoners, Qantas baggage handlers and check-in staff.
But Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has warned that their expectations are unrealistic, as Federal Police have already done everything they can to assist Corby's defence.
The Gold Coast woman was sentenced to 20 years jail after being found guilty of smuggling marijuana into Bali last year.

Do you have information that can free Schapelle from the horrible cage she is in? If so, please call the evidence/witness hotline at 07 3018 2821 or +61 7 3018 2821 from abroad. Lines open 24 hours. Schapelle's life quite literally depends on it.

National Schapelle Day of Solidarity- July 10, 2005 Schapelle's birthday.

July 6, 2005 Schapelle has written a letter to Prime Minister Howard pleading with him to "help prove my innocence to the courts, release me from this nightmare and set me free".

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has requested a wish-list of witnesses be submitted by the defense team to the Indonesian government, so that Indonesia can formally request that the Australian government facilitate their testimony. And  the suspected owner of the drugs found in Corby's bag, has refused to cooperate with the defense team.

Qantas has offered to co-operate with any requests for information from the Schapelle Corby defence team as the convicted drug smuggler prepares for the re-opening of her trial in Bali.
Sydney Airport Corporation has also offered to provide details of its baggage handling arrangements to assist the case.
The Indonesian High Court has granted Corby the chance to put as many as 25 new witnesses before the court.
Her lawyers want at least 12 people to appear, including Qantas baggage handlers, airport staff, and Australian prisoners.

July 5, 2005 The need for the Australian government to assist Schapelle and her defense team in locating witnesses and evidence from Australia is critical. Several slow steps have been taken in this direction. The government has stated that immunity can be negotiated for anybody who admits placing the drugs in Schapelle’s luggage. They have also said they are ascertaining the whereabouts of two Australian prisoners that are alleged to have information regarding the actual owner of the cannabis (Ronnie Vigenza). Requests to Qantas and Brisbane/Sydney airports for witnesses to come forward have been launched.

Schapelle’s defense lawyer, Hotman Hutapea – who has repeatedly asserted “Corby's case will depend on the Australian Government” – is also seeking that the government provide the names of the customs officials who were on duty in Brisbane, and customs reports on the covert activities of airline employees, which the government has so far refused to do.

Meanwhile, a rally is to be held on July 10 – Schapelle’s birthday – asking for more government help. The rally will be held in Tugun on the Gold Coast.

July 4, 2005 The Bali high court has announced it will hear Schapelle's appeal. The court will allow the presentation of new evidence from a dozen of new witnesses, providing that some of the witnesses can be found in Australia. Hotman Paris Hutapea, the head of Schapelle's defense team, has called for Australian prisoners, Customs officials, Qantas check-in staff, airport security staff, Bali's drug squad chief and eminent Indonesian legal experts to appear at the new trial.

Schapelle's defense team has stressed that cooperation from the Australian government is absolutely necessary for the appeal to be successful. Hutapea has said that the government must convince customs staff and baggage handlers at the Brisbane and Sydney airports to give testimony at the new trial, either in person or by video link. He is requesting that Australians write the government asking them to convince these witnesses to give new testimony that can free Schapelle. Hutapea is also seeking testimony from the Australian police, asking them to give evidence about drug movements through Australian airports, and provide a report that details these incidents.

There has been no date set for the new trial, but defense lawyers have stated it may begin as early as mid-July. If you or anybody you know has any information that might free Schapelle from the horrible cage she is in, please testify at the new trial. Schapelle's life quite literally depends on it.

June 30, 2005 Schapelle has been interviewed for the first time since her baseless incarceration.

June 29, 2005 Schapelle is pleading with her Australian lawyer, Robin Tampoe, rejoin her defense team after he quit in a dispute between her family and Ron Bakir. Meanwhile, the leader of Indonesian government has stated that he will not grant any pardon to Schapelle. This effectively places Schapelle's fate on the outcome of two appeals, one to the Bali court and possibly another to the Supreme Court in Jakarta.

June 26, 2005 it said on the TV news, that the Corby family has made over $100,000 from media interviews.

June 24, 2005 Schapelle Corby has sacked her Indonesian legal team - the shock decision coincides with an announcement from Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir who says he has severed all ties with the convicted drug smuggler and her family. Mr Bakir says he can no longer be involved with the case, after he was accused of asking Corby to repay him up to half a million dollars spent on her freedom campaign. Corby has apparently delivered the sacking news to her main Bali lawyer, Lily Lubis, in a phone call from prison. Meanwhile, Schapelle Corby's Indonesian lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea, says he will continue to work on Corby's appeal despite accusations of corruption. Mark Trowell claims he received a letter from an advisor to Corby's defence team, Vasu Rasiah, asking for a $500, 000 lump sum to bribe the Indonesian judges. But Rasiah says he wanted the money to fund a public relations campaign.