"SAVE Schapelle Corby APPEAL"

This could be Your Daughter!

"There but for the Grace of God go I"

Corby sentenced to 20 years in jail

16:04 AEST Fri May 27 2005

A Bali court has sentenced Australian Schapelle Corby to 20 years in prison for trying to smuggle 4.1kgs of marijuana into Indonesia.

Judges also fined Corby 100 million rupiah ($A13,875).

Her lawyers immediately said they would appeal. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence.

Earlier, Corby, 27, broke down in tears as the panel of three judges in the Denpasar District Court said the charges against her of smuggling marijuana had been "convincingly" proven.

Soon after, they formally declared her guilty and passed sentence.

"Twenty years?," said Corby, who was standing to hear the verdict from chief judge Linton Sirait.

She immediately turned to distressed mother Rosleigh Rose and appeared to shout: "Mum it's OK".

As the courtroom descended into chaos, Corby then hugged her interpreter and pushed through police to get to her mother and father Michael Corby.

She kissed other members of her family and was then led away by police through a crush of media to a waiting vehicle, which rushed her back to Kerobokan prison.

Corby backer, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir, said she would appeal.

"This is a massive injustice," he told reporters, crying.

"I'm speechless, I'm speechless I really am, I really don't know what more we could have done.

"We just have to keep fighting - that's all we can do."

Corby's lawyer Lily Lubis said the appeal process had already begun, but added of her client: "She will not survive."

Also outside the court, Glen Jeffers, a family friend, made an impassioned plea to the Indonesian president, linking the case to Australia's tsunami aid to the country.

"We'll continue to fight until an innocent girl is set free to live and enjoy her life.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, when Indonesia was struck by the tsunami, Australia gave aid.

Nine Australians gave the ultimate - their lives - in a helicopter crash on the island helping Indonesians.

Australia and Indonesia have become good friends. For a friendship to grow there must be giving from both friends.

Mr. President, we have seen enough innocent lives wasted in the past year. Please sir, let's not waste another innocent life.

All Australia asks is that you give Schapelle back to us. Schapelle is innocent."

Earlier, the judges said that based on the evidence and testimony from witnesses, the charges against Corby of importing illegal drugs into Indonesia were convincingly proven.

They said they had discounted much of the evidence, including that from Australian criminologist Paul Wilson, Corby's own family and evidence that Australian baggage handlers may have planted the drugs.

Prime Minister John Howard has appealed for Australians to accept the Corby verdict.

Mr. Howard said he felt for Corby and her family but said Australians had to accept the outcome of the Indonesian justice system.

"I do ask we all pause and understand the situation and recognise and respect that when we visit other countries we are subject to the laws and rules of those countries, just as when people visit our country they are subject to our laws and our rules," Mr. Howard told reporters in Melbourne.

Mr. Howard said whether Corby was guilty or innocent was not for him to judge or for Australians to judge without hearing the full evidence.

Latest News: Australia is in shock at the verdict and sentence handed down today to Schapelle Corby by chief judge, Linton Sirait after ignoring all evidence presented by her defence team. More Info >>