Bali prosecutor to block Corby witness

21:48 AEST Wed Jul 27 2005

Bali's chief prosecutor plans to block a key defence witness from testifying in Schapelle Corby's drugs case, saying he has no credibility.

Sydney man William Miller claims he was part of a Sydney drug ring that was meant to collect 4.1 kg of marijuana found in Corby's luggage at Bali airport last October.

However, Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu said he would object to Miller being allowed to give evidence to the Denpasar District next week from Australia via video link.

"The witness has no credibility. I will ask the court to refuse to hear his testimony," Wiswantanu said.

Miller's own Sydney solicitor has also cast doubts over about his client's claims.

Corby's chief lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea said he was no longer sure of Miller's reliability or motives for wanting to testify for Corby who is trying to overturn a 20-year sentence for drug smuggling.

Even so Hutapea says he will still press the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to grant him immunity.

Miller says he needs to have immunity from prosecution before he will give evidence when Corby's reopened trial resumes in Bali on August 3.

Miller's Sydney solicitor Michael Crooke told News Ltd newspapers on Wednesday he feared there was little substance to his client's claims.

"He doesn't know anything and I have told him if he is not careful he will go to jail," he said.

Hutapea said the defence team "was not 100 per cent sure if this witness is legitimate, but we have no choice but to entertain anyone who can help Corby".

"We are begging for witnesses, we are in no position to turn anyone away."

Another lawyer Erwin Siregar says Miller telephoned him last week and claimed he was part of a Sydney drug ring that was meant to collect 4.1 kg of marijuana found in Corby's luggage at Bali airport last October.

Siregar was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.

Miller told News Ltd newspapers he was offered $50,000 to pick up the drugs, which were allegedly planted after Corby checked in at Brisbane airport.

The stash was supposed to be collected in Sydney during transit to Bali, but a baggage handler missed the package and it ended up in Bali, said Miller, who had demanded but failed to get $250,000 for his story.

His account follows highly-publicised claims by Corby's defence that corrupt baggage handlers must have planted the drugs in her bag.

It also follows a now-defunct offer by mobile phone entrepreneur Ron Bakir, who previously worked on the case, of a $1 million reward for anyone with information clearing Corby's name.

Hutapea said Siregar was trying to convince Miller to formally disclose his identity to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutors (DPP) so it can consider granting immunity.

Meanwhile, Qantas has confirmed that two staff from Brisbane airport - a check-in clerk and an oversized baggage handler - would travel to Bali to testify that they did not notice anything suspicious in Corby's luggage when she checked in, Hutapea said.

18:03 AEST Fri Jul 22 2005

Indonesian lawyers for convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby have approached the director of public prosecutions in NSW and Queensland requesting immunity for potential witnesses in her trial, the federal government said on Friday.

Justice minister Chris Ellison said he had received a letter from Corby's lead lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea, which revealed the request of both states, but did not give any details of the potential witnesses.

Senator Ellison said the federal government was happy with the development.

"We have advised Mr. Hutapea that he approach the DPP at both state and federal level if he is seeking immunity for any witnesses to give evidence in relation to Schapelle Corby's hearing," Senator Ellison said.

"The question of whether immunity is given to a witness in a trial is one for the DPP and so it should be. We are pleased to see Mr. Hutapea has taken this course of action. I do not know who the witness is and that has not been revealed to me by Mr. Hutapea, that is a matter for the defence team."

Senator Ellison said the government were still waiting to hear if Mr. Hutapea had applied to the Indonesian courts to allow video evidence to be given from Australia in any hearings.

"We stand ready to assist in that regard should that permission be given by the court," Senator Ellison said.