I am writing to request that the Australian Government urgently makes another formal request to obtain a sample of the marijuana that was found in Ms Schapelle Corby's luggage when she arrived at Denpasar Airport, Bali, Indonesia on October 8th 2004.
It has been reported in very recent news, that her Supreme Court Appeal has failed and that she has had her sentence increased to 20 years. Furthermore, the court ordered the destruction of the evidence. Consequently, once the evidence is destroyed, then there will be no material available to prove forensically the origin of the marijuana by pollen testing or other methods. I am aware that a previous request to obtain a sample was unsuccessful.
It is of prime importance that this material gets tested. It has been widely reported in the print media that on October 8th 2004 (the day before the Federal Election) a shipment of 9.9 Kg of cocaine arrived into Sydney International Airport on Aerolineas Argentinas Flight 1881, landing at 8.00 am; Ms Corby arrived in Sydney at 7.30 am and departed for Bali close to 10.30 am. The overlapping times are beyond a coincidence! In fact there is a distinct possibility that the marijuana was on that same flight. Further information of the marijuana being on that flight is included in the accompanying attachment. I do hope that you are aware that as recently as May 2005 a senior member of the AFP was being investigated for passing on vital information to the cocaine smuggling syndicate about a registered informant (RI 719) who was a baggage handler at Sydney International airport and a member of this syndicate.
Ms Corby has had tremendous bad luck with gaining any form of evidence to assist her. You have stated that you can not intervene in the judicial process of another country. I accept that. However, now that Ms Corby's appeals process has ended are you in a position to make another formal request for a sample of the marijuana to be collected and to be tested forensically by Australian Federal Police, particularly given the circumstance set out in the attachment? Would it be possible to suggest to the Indonesian Government that the Australian Government (or taxpayer) will pay for such testing? Such forensic testing may also be useful evidence in the court cases of the cocaine smuggling syndicate.
I am certain Ms Corby would appreciate any effort made to gain such information.
Yours truly,
Brad
[details provided in original letter]
Thank you for your letter of 30 January 2006 to the Prime Minister regarding the conviction of Ms Schapelle Corby in Indonesia for the possession of marijuana. The Prime Minister has requested that I reply to you due to my portfolio responsibility for the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The AFP received information from various sources relating to allegations of baggage handlers at Australian airports placing narcotics into paseenger baggage for interstate shipment. The AFP and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) State Drug Investigation Unit formed a joint team to investigate the allegations.
Australian Law enforcement agencies have conducted an extensive investigation in relation to the departure of Ms Corby from Australia and the possible involvement of a third party in placing the cannabis in her baggage. Law enforcement agencies have exhausted their enquiries in relation to this matter and to date have been unable to support Ms Corby's claims that the marijuana was not in her baggage on check-in for her flight leaving Brisbane on 8 October 2004. Further, I am advised that there is no x-ray image or closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage available in relation to the departure of Ms Corby to support her claims.
Additionally, as a result of a protracted investigation relating to the alleged importation of cocaine into Australia, referred in your correspondence, I am advised that all avenues of enquiry conducted by law enforcement agencies failed to identify any link between the cannabis located in the baggage belonging to Ms Corby and the syndicate allegedly responsible for the importation of cociane through Sydney Airport the same day.
I also note your comments relating to an investigation relating to the unlawful disclosure of information by a member of the AFP. This investigation exonerated the officer of any unlawful disclosure in relation to this matter.
In relation to the testing of the marijuana, I can confirm that the AFP made a general offer of assistance to the Indonesian National Police (INP) in December 2004, however due to the finalisation of the police investigation this offer of assistance was declined. As you are aware the AFP can not directly intervene in the legal processes underway in Indonesia unless there is a direct request for assistance from the Indonesian Court or the INP. This advice was provided directly to Ms Corby's lawyers. It was the responsibility of Ms Corby's defence team to initiate this request through the Indonesian Courts. I can also confirm that the AFP has not received a request for assistance from the INP or the Indonesian Courts for any forensic assistance in this matter before or after the conviction of Ms Corby.
Again, please be assured that the Australian Government thriugh the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will monitor the welfare of Ms corby and provide all appropriate assistance.
Yours sincerely,
CHRIS ELLISON,
Senator for Western Australia
