Convicted drug smuggler Corby counting on video witnesses

Convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby’s best hope for overturning a 20-year prison sentence may now lie in video teleconferencing witnesses who claim the marijuana found in her surf board bag was planted, her lawyer said today.

But the 28-year-old beauty schootudent faces an uphill battle.

A judge in Jakarta yesterday said anyone who took the stand must appear at the Denpasar District Court in person, and the defence said its two strongest witnesses were looking for immunity, something they would not be likely to get.

Corby’s lawyer Hotman Paris said he sent a letter to the Bali High Court today asking that unnamed witnesses be allowed to testify by video-link. Australian officials said they were ready to provide whatever facilities were needed for video testimony.

“Our view is that any evidence that is in the interest of justice is desirable,” Justice Minister Chris Ellison said, after meeting with Paris in Jakarta. “Of course, if video-link conferencing can advance that, then it is something that is appropriate.”

Corby was sentenced to 20 years in prison in May for smuggling 4.2 kilograms of marijuana onto the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

Her defence team claims their client was probably a victim of a domestic drug ring involving corrupt Australian baggage handlers who failed to retrieve the planted marijuana before her bags were transferred to an international flight.

Yesterday, judges refused to give Corby’s defence team additional time to find new witnesses as part of the appeal process.

But Paris said he had located an Australian drug dealer and convict who could testify to the ownership of the drugs – though both have requested immunity and have refused to go to Bali.

Paris said he was counting on the admission of video conferencing, but also said he was ready to take the case to the Supreme Court.

Video conferencing has been used in Indonesia – most recently during one of the terror trials of radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.

Three key suspects held in Malaysia and Singapore were only allowed to testify by video linkup.

Defence attorneys argued they could have been under duress and the court discounted their statements.