Corby appeals to Yudhoyono:

09:47 AEST Sun May 22 2005

Accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has made a desperate plea to the Indonesian president to realise her innocence and release her.

In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph, Corby begged Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to set her free.

"I cry myself to sleep each night wondering why this happened to me," Corby wrote, according to the paper.

"Dear President Yudhoyono, you hold the key. Please set me free."

"I have done enough time for this terrible crime that I promise you that I did not do. Please set me free. That's the truth."

Her Australian lawyer, Robin Tampoe, will meet Corby to take delivery of the letter, while opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd will raise the case with the Indonesian ambassador in Canberra this week.

Mr. Tampoe told ABC radio the letter was a plea from the heart.

"She just wants Australia to know and Indonesia to know that there's no criticisms of Indonesia or anyone for that matter," he said.

"It's she didn't do this and she knows she's in the system and she's got to work in that system.

"We're just hoping that the system will do the right thing by her."

Australia and Indonesia are in talks to set up a prisoner exchange system, under which Corby could serve part or most of any sentence in an Australian jail if she is convicted.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said Corby would be welcome in one of his state's jails.

He said he was not surprised at her last-minute appeal.

"I guess in these circumstances when you are facing this sort of problem you'll do whatever you can within the law to put your case," Mr. Beattie told reporters.

"I think it's understandable."

Mr. Rudd said he would raise the case with Indonesian ambassador Imron Cotan this week.

"We are not out there in the business of launching public fusillades against the Indonesian government on this matter. That is completely counterproductive," Mr. Rudd told the Ten Network.

"If the interest here is to ensure the best outcome in terms of a fair trial for Schapelle Corby, our view is that is best advanced by diplomatic level communications with the Indonesian government.

"We've been doing that for months and I'll be doing it again this week."

The 27-year-old Gold Coast beauty student faces life in jail if convicted of smuggling 4.1 kg of cannabis into Bali last October.

A verdict is expected to be handed down in Denpasar District Court next Friday.

Corby's lawyer Robin Tampoe told The Sunday Telegraph he was also preparing a formal pardon appeal in a letter to the president.

Indonesia's president traditionally pardons a number of prisoners each year, the paper reported.

15:38 AEST Wed May 25 2005

Lawyers for Schapelle Corby have welcomed news of a possible one-off prisoner transfer deal for the Gold Coast woman, but Indonesian officials are wary about the plan.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison says Australian officials are ready to negotiate a transfer to an Australian jail for Corby if she is found guilty of drug smuggling on Friday.

A wider prisoner transfer agreement between Australia and Indonesia is being negotiated, but Ellison says an interim deal to get Corby back to Australia sooner is being contemplated.

"It is good news - we'll have to wait and see what comes of it," lawyer Robin Tampoe said as he entered Bali's Kerobokan prison to visit the 27-year-old Corby.

Tampoe was accompanied by Corby backer, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir, and Corby's sister Mercedes.

However, Tampoe said Corby's legal team were optimistic the deal would not be needed.

"We are very optimistic she will be acquitted on Friday - so is she," said Tampoe.

"We hope it will all go her way."

But Indonesia reacted warily to the Australian government suggestion of an interim prisoner transfer arrangement.

Latest News: Corby will be protected at court: Bakir

Schapelle Corby's financial backer has refused to confirm if a death threat has been made against her, but says everything will be done to protect the accused drug smuggler at her court appearance in Indonesia on Friday. More Info >>