[http://www.nationalledger.com/scribe/archives/2005/05/aussie_surfer_c.shtml]
May 27, 2005 Aussie Surfer Corby Sentenced To 20 Years
Australians worldwide are angered by the 20-year prison sentence handed down to Schapelle Corby by an Indonesian court yesterday. They have reportedly threatened to boycott their nearest neighbour and turn Bali "into a ghost town," according to the courier mail news.
Corby is charged with possesion of 4.1 kg of marijuana.
Throughout the trial, the beautician student has insisted she is innocent. Corby claims her luggage was tampered with after she was arrested last October with the bag of marijuana.
In Australia, Prime Minister John Howard reportedly expressed sympathy for Corby and her family but called on Australians to respect the verdict.
"Whatever additional assistance that can appropriately be provided will be. But at the end of the day we must, and the Government will, respect the processes of the justice system of other countries," according to published reports.
Corby was reportedly allowed to hug her crying parents before being led away by police to jail.
The case, which has galvanized public opinion in Australia, has been a huge news story in the country.
The Indonesian embassy in Canberra has been bombarded with hate phone calls, and federal police upgraded the security there and at Indonesian missions nationally.
JD