FPSS Urgent update - March 15, 2006
'Indonesia set to destroy Corby's evidence'
On Friday 17 March 2006, the evidence that could prove Schapelle Corby's
innocence will be destroyed by the Indonesian Authorities.
Schapelle's lawyers are urgently pushing to have tests done as a last ditch
effort to prove their client's innocence.
"They haven't even allowed her lawyers to fully exhaust all avenues of
appeal before they destroy the evidence that has yet to be tested" says Kay
Danes, an advocate for the Foreign Prisoner Support Service.
"Australia has given Indonesia billions of dollars over the past few years
for Customs, Law enforcement and forensic training and yet, at no time
during Schapelle's arrest did any Indonesian authorities wear protective
gloves, nor did they bother to finger print her boogey board bag, or test
the cannabis as you would expect any law enforcement agency to do" says Kay
Danes. "What hope does an Australian citizen ever have to a fair trial
when these basic protocols are not even followed?"
Click Here for URGENT PRESS RELEASE
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Schapelle Corby Update by Tony Wilson - 12 March 2006
Tony Wilson Photo Copyright F.P.S.S
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IT was a real kick in the guts. My wife Elaine and I had been looking
forward to seeing Schapelle for the first time since October [2005].
We arrived in Bali on Wednesday, March 1 [2006], wondering how the Tugun
woman had handled the dire news in January [2005] that her sentence had
been restored to 20 years.
Schapelle's sister, Mercedes, greeted us with the news Schapelle had an eye
infection. The infection, known as mata-merah or red-eye, is an Indonesian
version of conjunctivitis only it is far more severe than its Australian
cousin. It makes the eyes swell until they close, run continually and
become extremely sore.
"It is highly contagious and when Schapelle contracted it for the first
time in December, my two kids, Dad (Michael) and I all caught it," said
Mercedes.
"I was in so much pain I didn't leave the house for a week and it took
Schapelle, Dad and I two weeks to get rid of it."
Click Here for Complete Story
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Schapelle Corby Update Friday 10 March 2006
Thank you to everyone who has continued to send emails to us and to those
who are sending a steady stream of letters to Schapelle in Bali. Your
continued support and concern for Schapelle is inspiring and gives her
great comfort.
Many supporters are anxious for news updates and we will do our best to
keep you all informed. At times it will be difficult to share information
due to the current legal strategies going on behind the scenes. But without
compromising that area too much we would like to advise that Schapelle is
now being assisted with international legal representation in support of
her current legal team who have, and are, continuing to make appropriate
representations on her behalf. It may be quiet on the public front but
certainly not behind the scenes.
Click Here for Complete Story
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No 'direct link' between trafficking report and Corby
Federal Transport Minister John Anderson says there is no link between the case of convicted drug smuggler, Schapelle Corby, and a Customs report highlighting major problems of drug trafficking at Sydney Airport.
The report alleges that teams of baggage handlers, cleaners and other airport workers have been involved in diverting bags containing drugs from international flights to domestic flights.
It also points to other "serious" security breaches.
Mr Anderson says he has been aware of the issues raised in the report, which was completed in September of last year, and he says work has been done to fix the problems.
Mr Anderson told Channel 9 there is no connection to Corby, who claimed the four kilograms of marijuana found in her bag in Bali last year, had been planted during her domestic flight from Brisbane to Sydney.
"It doesn't find any direct link there," he said.
Click Here for Full Article
International Prisoner Advocates acknowledge
Journalist' support to Schapelle Corby
Foreign Prisoner Support Service would like to acknowledge Australian
Journalist Tony Wilson of the Gold Coast Bulletin for his consistent,
ongoing dedication to Schapelle Corby and her family. Tony Wilson has been
relentless in reporting every aspect of the story from the moment this
young Australian was arrested in the Denpassar Airport in October
2004. Tony Wilson has shown the type of compassion that few journalists
allow themselves to show in these complex cases.
Click Here for Complete Story
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Free Schapelle News Release 24 Jan 2006
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Letters and care packages [and hand made gifts] are still being delivered
in large quantities to Schapelle and in fact, her family are receiving
quite a large volume of letters as well. This is tremendously encouraging
and shows the true spirit of all Australians that help others when they are
down. Thank you to all those supporters who are continuing to show this
type of dedication which is really inspiring! Thank you also to the
Kerobokan Prison Authorities for allowing this overwhelming support to
continue to flourish.
Recent confirmation has been obtained and we must advise that Schapelle is
NOT able to purchase a prison cell in Kerobokan Prison. It has been
confirmed today by her sister Mercedes, to the Foreign Prisoner Support
Service, that there are no cells available. There are 100 female prisoners
detained in Kerobokan and there are only 10 cells to accommodate them.
Click Here for Full Press Release
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Schapelle Corby's sentence reinstated to 20 years
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HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: In breaking news, the ABC has been told by a
number of officials in the Jakarta Supreme Court that the convicted drug smuggler, Schapelle
Corby's final appeal has failed and her sentence has been increased from 15 years back to the
original 20 set by the Denpasar District Court last year.
Joining me on the line now
is our Indonesia Correspondent Tim Palmer.
Tim, what have you heard?
TIM PALMER:
What I can tell you, and we have since seen the documents sent from Indonesia's highest court,
the Supreme Court in Jakarta, to Denpasar's District Court, I can tell you that the appeal was
decided a week ago today and that in fact Schapelle Corby's appeal not only failed, but the prosecutor's counter appeal succeeded. And that Schapelle Corby having had her sentence pared back from the original 20 years given to her in Denpasar last year to 15 years, after the Denpasar High Court first appeal, has now had that reversed.
That case has been cancelled, struck out by the highest court in the land, and she's been returned and now faces 20 years in a Balinese prison once again.
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: Tim, where does this leave the Corby defence now?
TIM PALMER: Well unless they can mount some argument to reopen the case, or have a retrial on the basis of evidence, this is, pretty much, the final avenue of appeal for Schapelle Corby.
At this stage, it is more likely that it is time for Schapelle Corby's family probably, to start examining avenues such as a prisoner transfer scheme if she wanted to return to Australia, if the Australian Government does negotiate such things.
The standard range of judicial options for Schapelle Corby is pretty much exhausted at this stage.
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: Okay, Tim Palmer, thank you very much for your time.
Click Here for Complete Story
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Drug accused clears Corby
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HOLIDAY snap ... Malcolm McCauley and Schapelle Corby in the Bali jail.
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CONVICTED drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has been cleared of any link to the Adelaide
man facing drug charges with whom she was photographed in Bali's Kerobokan Prison.
Breaking his silence, the man in the controversial photos – Malcolm McCauley, 60 – said
he had visited Corby twice last year in Bali, but only as a tourist offering support during her trial.
"A mate and I were in Bali, and we thought we'd go have a looksee in court," Mr McCauley
said at his Adelaide home yesterday. "She's high profile, and she's an Aussie, that's why we
and a lot of others were interested in it. -
Click Here for Complete Story
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"We won't leave without Schapelle."
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Mercedes Corby with her Balinese husband and their children
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11 January 2006,
written by Mercedes Corby
"Thank you to all the people throughout the world who are continuing
to support my sister Schapelle [Corby] who is currently detained in Kerobokan Prison, Bali.
On behalf of Schapelle, and my family, I would like to express my sincerest
gratitude to everyone who has not given up on our fight to bring Schapelle home.
It has been a long and difficult journey and at times I wonder where we find the
strength to endure but then I see my sister smile and I know that there can be no
other choice but to continue supporting her, for however long it takes.
Click Here for Complete Story
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Message from Corby Family Update 7 Jan 2006
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Happy New Year Everyone! Mercedes would like to thank all the supporters for
their tremendous efforts in sending handmade gifts for Schapelle.
Spirit of Schapelle Forum member, Roz Fisher of Adelaide, made a lovely
'Book of Hope' currently listed on this website. Mercedes said that
Schapelle thought this was absolutely divine and sends her special thanks
to Roz. If you'd like to see it then visit
this link .
Also, another SOS member, Tina [teenadee] from Perth, sent a lovely
handmade book with photo's of Schapelle in it and messages of faith, hope
and support. Well done Tina! This is absolutely inspiring.
Mercedes said that she's going to write everyone another letter soon
thanking them. But in the event she gets snowed under.... please know that
these gifts, letters and cards that you are all taking such time and care
to send, are getting through. They are very much appreciated. Mercedes said
that there have been parcels arriving from supporters and all these are
lifting Schapelle's spirits tremendously.
Keep it coming. Your thoughtfulness is keeping a smile on our Schapelle's
face. You can join other supporters at http://www.spiritofschapelle.com/forum
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Message from Corby Family 26 December 2005
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Dear Friends,
We would like to Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New year.
Thank you for your continued support, advice, letters,well wishes and
lovely packages for Schapelle.
Thank you for caring so much!
From The Corby Family
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22 December 2005 'Hope Book for Schapelle'
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Roz Fisher, an Adelaide member of the SOS Forum [Spirit of Schapelle] made
this wonderful 'Hope Book for Schapelle'. Please take a few minutes to look
at it. It is absolutely fantastic that the supporters at this forum are
continuing to show such tremendous support to help keep alive the hopes of
a young girl fighting for her freedom. Well done Roz!
Click Here to Read the Hope Book
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Corby's mum to hand-deliver photos
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HAPPY to take evidence back to Indonesia ... Schapelle Corby's mother, Rosleigh Rose, will fly back with copies of the photographs allegedly showing her daughter with a drug dealer but which she claims were taken in Kerobokan jail.
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THE mother of drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will travel
to Bali to hand-deliver photographs of her daughter with an alleged
drug dealer to prove they were taken in Keroboken Prison.
Rosleigh Rose obtained the photographs after The Advertiser newspaper in Adelaide was contacted on behalf of one of the men in the pictures, known as "Dave".
One set of the pictures was seized by South Australian police last week.
Indonesian prosecutors have said they may use them to strengthen their appeal for a longer sentence for Corby, currently serving 15 years in Keroboken for smuggling 4kg of marijuana from Australia to Bali.
The prosecutors expected to use the pictures to argue Corby previously associated with drug dealers.
Corby's family have vehemently denied she had any involvement with drugs or drug dealers.
Click Here for Complete Story
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APPEAL FROM ROSLEIGH ROSE [CORBY] |
Update 16 Dec 05
FPSS have been notified by Rosleigh Corby that she has been successful in
securing a copy of all the photo's whilst in Adelaide. This was done with
the assistance of the local paper and not the police. Now Hotman will be
able to refute the allegations because the photo's substantiate Rosleigh's
statements that the persons in the photo's were visitors to Kerobokan.
Great news!!!! Well done Rose!
16 December 2005
The mother of Schapelle Corby has requested Foreign Prisoner Support
Service to release the following appeal.
If anyone has any information regarding the photographs that were seized by
South Australian and Queensland Police, that allegedly show Schapelle with
an alleged drug smuggler, could you please contact us immediately. Any
contact will be in the strictest confidence. Similarly, we urge the persons
in the photographs to come forward and assist us in setting the record
straight, for Schapelle's sake.
Don't let an innocent girl suffer anymore
than she has!
Contact FPSS - [click here]
or
Erwin Siregar [Criminal Lawyer]
Kerta Wijaya Shopping Centre
Jl Diponegoro 98 Block C-21
Denpasar
Junior Counsel Mr. Hoposan Sihonding
Junior counsel assisting Erwin Siregar
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Announcement Dec 2005 - Schapelle Corby Trust Account
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On Schapelle's behalf, a trust account has been established by her mother,
Rosleigh Rose to provide practical support to Schapelle throughout her
detainment in Kerobokan Prison.
We hope that the supporters will continue to support Schapelle in ways
that sustain her, if need be, in the longer term. After all, we don't know
how long it will take for Schapelle to finally return home to Australia.
Your contributions will assist the family in purchasing vital daily
supplies ie: clothing, personal items, sanitary items, medicine and food.
If you require more information then please contact us .
Click Here to contact us for informaiton on how to send donations to Schapelle.
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November 24, 2005 Update from Mercedes Corby
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Thank you again to everyone for their continued support to Schapelle and to
our family. Sorry we don't have any recent pictures of Schapelle as no
cameras are allowed in the prison.
Schapelle is in good health at the moment and has also been in a good frame
of mind. There are now 14 girls in Schapelle's cell at the moment. (Still
no electricity other then the light that is on 24 hours).
It's very humid here in Bali now as it is the rainy season but Schapelle
seems to be adapting well to the hot weather. This time last year, it was
very very hard for her to sleep in the heat and she needed a hand held fan
with her all day.
Click Here for Complete Story
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Corby's mum has message for Leslie
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The mother of convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has urged freed Australian
model Michelle Leslie not to speak harshly about her time spent in a Bali jail for drug offences.
Rosleigh Rose warned Leslie to think carefully before telling her story to the world out of fear any inflammatory comments could jeopardise Australians still on drugs charges in Indonesia. "Hopefully she doesn't say anything about the justice system or anything over there that can ruin it for all the other Australians in Indonesia," Ms Rose said on Tuesday. "They don't like things said about them.
Click Here for Complete Story
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Letter from Schapelle to all the supporters who have written to her
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November 21, 2005
'I would like to thank you for caring as much as you do. It's been the
constant flow of letters of love and care that's enabled not only me, but
my whole family to get through each day, to keep strong. Knowing we have
such great support, we are reassured from countless big-hearted, beautiful
people, that we do have the strength to get through any number of trials,
inevitably to bring me home.
'Someone wrote me : Remember these two things Schapelle... you are stronger
than you think, you are never alone. We can all fight this together, it
feels like we are, and we will win.
'I've been in this cage now for over a year. Thanks to your support and
prayers, I know that every day does come to an end. Tomorrow's always a new
day.
Thank you
Schapelle.
Be positive :-)
2005
Archive of letter
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Schapelle's cell conditions worsen
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CONDITIONS in Schapelle Corby's jail cell have worsened, prompting her family to describe them as "disgusting".
There are now 13 prisoners in cell No.7 at Bali's Kerobokan prison, including convicted drug smuggler Corby.
When she was first transferred from the stinking cell at Polda police station earlier this year, the cell had eight inmates and Corby said that number was hard to deal with, especially after the daily 4.30pm lockdown.
Within weeks, it was home to 11 prisoners and Corby said there was almost constant movement to and from the basic toilet attached to the cell. "There are people coming and going all the time and it's in that area where I had my little stove set up, but I've stopped cooking for now, I'm over it," she said.
Corby's sister Mercedes said the number had risen to 13 - crammed into the cell measuring just 4m by 3m.
Click Here for Complete Story
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Schapelle Corby Update 07 Nov 2005
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Schapelle's 20 sentence has been cut today to 15 years
Thanks to some very dedicated supporters a number of vital questions have
been raised concerning the judicial process that convicted Schapelle Corby
of drug trafficking in Bali. These points were forwarded immediately to
Mercedes Corby in the hope that it might somehow assist Schapelle's legal
defence in the next High Court appeal.
Mercedes responded today and confirmed the points have been investigated
and will be incorporated, amongst other evidence, in future representations
to the judicial body in Indonesia.
Thank you to all those who are continuing to support Schapelle in her fight
for freedom. We fear everyday for her continued well being but we know that
she will never give up! Please keep your letters of support going to her in
Kerobokan Prison and appeal to the Australian Government so that they know
you all still care.
Our heartfelt appreciation continues to go out to Mr. Hotman Paris Hutapea
and Mr. Erwin Siregar and associates who are continuing to meet the
challenges of the legal process. We are encouraged by their vigilance.
Thank you.
Admin
Click Here for Complete Story
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Schapelle Corby Update 12 October 2005
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Schapelle's 20 sentence has been cut today to 15 years
'Our thoughts and prayers are with Schapelle and the Corby family. This is
not the end. We will just keep fighting till Schapelle comes home' says
Human Rights and family advocate Kay Danes. 'Hotman Hutapea and his team
have made excellent representations to the Indonesian authorities on
Schapelle's behalf. They have faced many difficult challenges but have
never faltered or given up the fight to free Schapelle. I hope that all
her supporters will be encouraged by their dedication and commitment to
securing an innocent girl's freedom. I hope they will all keep campaigning
to bring Schapelle home!'
'We will fight till she is out' says Mercedes - 12 Oct 2005
Click Here for Complete Story
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Schapelle Corby Update September 28, 2005
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Dear Supporters,
Schapelle and our family would like to thank all of the sites for the
support you have shown. We appreciate all those who have written to
Schapelle, wrote to the government, rallied and given donations at what
has been an extremely distressing time for Schapelle and our family and
friends. We appreciate your continued support and hope you will understand
that we are unable to contact and thank people individually.
To everyone working on the websites, we thank you very much and appreciate
all your hard work and support.
It helps Schapelle be stronger knowing that she has so many who support
her, thank you.
Thanks
Mercedes
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Schapelle Corby Update September 21, 2005
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The following letter has been sent to all supporters from Schapelle.
'I would like to thank you for caring as much as you do. It's been the
constant flow of letters of love and care that's enabled not only me, but
my whole family, to get through each day, to keep strong. Knowing we have
such great support, we are reassured from countless big hearted, beautiful
people that we do have the strength to get through any number of trials,
inevitably to bring me home.
Someone wrote me, "Remember these two things Schapelle:
- You are stronger than you think
- You are never alone."
We can all fight this together. It feels like we are, and we will win. I've
been in this cage now for almost one year. It started October the 8th,
2004. Thanks for your support and prayers. I know that every day does come
to an end. Tomorrow's always a new day.
Thank you
Schapelle
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Mercedes sends her appreciation to all Schapelle supporters.
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Dear friends,
Mercedes Corby telephoned me today and asked me to pass on this message.
She said that she wanted all Schapelle's supporters to know that Schapelle
and the family are grateful for all the letters and care packages that
continue to be delivered to Schapelle at Kerobokan and via the Australian
Embassy in Bali.
Mercedes said that she was hoping to be able to get a letter out to
everyone thanking them for their continued support and to everyone who is
promoting Schapelle's plight on their various web sites.
Hopefully we will know the outcome of the appeal in the coming week.
Schapelle's legal defence, Mr. Hotman Paris Hutapea and Mr. Erwin Siregar
and associates are continuing to meet the challenges of the legal
process. They have never given up fighting for Schapelle and we all owe
them our greatest respect.
Click Here for Complete Story
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** Schapelle Corby Rally SUCCESS **
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The RALLY for Schapelle Corby held on Sunday 10 July at Gold Coast was
well attended by supporters. Clearly there are many Australians who are
concerned with the ongoing detainment of Schapelle Corby in Kerobokan Prison.
** Schapelle Corby's Appeal**
With the appeal pending at the High Court in Bali, it is imperative that
all supporters get behind Schapelle to lobby the Australian Government to
continue its support and bring her home.
Please do not sit and do nothing while this young girl is left to rot in a
prison that is appalling by anyone's standards.
Write now to your Federal Member of Parliament and seek their immediate
action to raise your concerns to the Australian Federal government.
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MAY 27TH 2005 - SCHAPELLE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS!!
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BALI, Indonesia (Reuters) - An Indonesian court on today sentenced Australian beauty therapist Schapelle Corby to 20 years in jail for trying to smuggle 4.1 kg (9 lb) of marijuana into Bali, triggering outrage from her family and friends.
"The panel of judges declares the defendant legally and convincingly guilty of the crime of illegal importation of narcotics," judge Linton Sirait told a hearing watched live across Australia, where the case has transfixed the nation.
Prosecutors had demanded life in jail for Corby, 27, who has repeatedly argued the drugs found by airport officials in her unlocked bag on the famous holiday island last year were not hers and that they were planted.
Corby's family said they would appeal.
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