Schapelle Corby during her court case

Schapelle Corby has appealed for clemency from the Indonesian President. This has led to a huge surge in interest online with people looking for the latest news on Australian Schapelle Corby who was arrested and convicted of drug smuggling in Bali. Facing 20 years in Kerobokan Prison for a crime she has refused to admit to, Corby is having a tough time of it in Indonesia.

16 months ago I wrote a short blog asking the question “Has Schapelle Corby been forgotten“. For the most part I think she has but maybe these fresh appeals will bring a positive outcome and keep her plight in the limelight.

On the 8^th of October 2004, Schapelle Corby was apprehended by Indonesian customs officers on her arrival in Bali from Australia. Amongst her possessions was an unlocked boogie board and upon searching the officers claimed to find 9.3 lbs (or 4.2 kg) of cannabis. Corby to this day has claimed the drugs were not hers and she had no knowledge of the narcotics.

Her defence centred on the theory that she had become an unwitting drug courier for what was supposed to have been an interstate shipment of drugs between Brisbane and Sydney in Australia.

No More Tomorrows Book, the true story.

At the defence’s last address to the court, on 29 April 2005, Corby said to the three judges:

“I cannot admit to a crime I did not commit. And to the judges, my life at the moment is in your hands, but I would prefer if my life was in your hearts….And your Honour, I ask of you to show compassion, to find me innocent, to send me home. Saya tidak bersalah (I am not guilty)”

She was convicted and sentenced on May 27^th 2005 and is eligible for release, with current remissions on the 12^th April 2024. Corby would be 46.

Schapelle on her way back to prison after a spell in hospital

Schapelle has suffered greatly in prison and is very weak, mostly brought on by depression for which she has spent two periods in hospital under guard in June 2008 and May 2009.

After six years stuck in her Balinese prison cell, Corby’s mental state has left her in a near “catatonic” state.

The Australian has submitted a clemency appeal to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for a reduction in her 20-year jail sentence and is now awaiting his decision. The media circus has moved up a gear on recent events; Schapelle Corby now merits news attention. Very sad.

“The Supreme Court forwarded Corby’s clemency appeal to the president on Monday. It’s up to the president to decide. I can’t give more details,” court official David Simanjuntak said.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia supported the plea.

“We have made it clear to Indonesia that if and when she formally made an application of clemency to the president that we would support that,” he was quoted as saying by the ABC, Australia’s public broadcaster.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday said she supported the clemency plea for Corby.

“I support, the Australian government supports, her plea for clemency,” the Prime Minister told reporters while campaigning in Melbourne.

“We obviously do want that plea for clemency to be heard and to get sympathetic consideration. I’m very concerned about her personal circumstances and I do support her plea.”

So there we have it, the latest news and as Schapelle Corby ‘s life hangs on a precarious tightrope she, along with her family and legal team await the decision from the President.  However as is usually the case in Indonesia, a prisoner has to admit they are guilty of a crime before Clemency is granted – Schapelle Corby has said she will never admit her guilt.

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He is also prepared to write to the Indonesian Government pleading for clemency.

Mr Clarke, who heads the Framlingham – based Kikkabush Aboriginal Community, wrote to former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after the Australian woman’s arrest in October 2004, believing she has been treated unfairly.

“I would have been one of the first Australian citizens to write to Indonesia on the Corby case,” Mr Clarke told The Standard yesterday.

“My letter then was referred to the Australian embassy and I was told she would be dealt with by Indonesian law.

“Now I believe it is time again for the community to join a campaign to press for her release from the Bali prison.

“Reports show she is not well and I have a gut feeling she could die within six months if nothing is done for her.

“I feel she has been hard done-by.

“Give her a fair go and bring her back home to Australia.”

Mr Clarke said many people in the Aboriginal community were concerned about Ms Corby and how she had been treated.

In his letter to Ms Gillard he said “we wish you to note our ongoing support for Ms Corby”.

When The Standard contacted the prime minster’s office yesterday it was told the matter was being handled by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

A spokesman for the department said the government would support any application for clemency, but “the decision on whether to grant clemency or not is for the President of Indonesia”.

“For the Government to be able to do anything about bringing Schapelle Corby back to Australia, we first need to have a prisoner transfer treaty with Indonesia that would allow her to seek permission to serve out her sentence in Australia,” the department said.

“Concluding such a treaty with Indonesia is a priority for the government, and we are working toward that end with the Indonesian authorities.

But, unlike Australia, which has prisoner transfer treaties with a number of countries, Indonesia has none.

“In the meantime, we will continue to do what we can, working with Schapelle Corby’s family and the prison authorities in Indonesia, to protect her health and welfare.”

However Pauline Hanson, a criminal herself  spoke up against Schapelle Corby and believes the Australian taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill for the former beauty student, now 32.

”The fact is, she was convicted on drug charges in Bali and that’s where she must do her time,” Ms Hanson told Woman’s Day. ”That’s unless, of course, our government is prepared to seek an exchange program with other countries.

”Our jails, especially in Queensland from my experience, are far too soft for convicted murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, pedophiles and now our ever increasing numbers of people smugglers.”

Nice to see Hanson well and truly sitting on the fence …. not! With all this publicity from the ex fish and chip shop owner one must ask the question if she needs more money to buy more batter or she’s about to launch a book!

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Nichols has always been able to deliver an emotional song effortlessly and until I heard this song “I’ll Wait For You”, taken from his 2005 album III and written by Bill Anderson and Harley Allen, was my favourite song. Don’t get me wrong I love most of his songs but I’ll Wait For You had that something special and the two videos that accompanied the two versions were amazing.

Alcohol has played a huge part in his songs but few were aware of his addiction and problems with Alcohol but with the release of his new album Nichols is frank and honest about his problems. He has been sober for over a year and “An Old Friend of Mine” is his emotional storytelling account of his drinking.

It will inevitably strike a chord with people who are struggling with any form of addiction but for me, someone who is fortunate not to suffer from such an addiction, it delivers on all fronts. Emotional, honest and simple. The use of one camera doesn’t detract from the message the video brings and is key to this kind of song. Country songs are famed for a broken truck, a bitter divorce or the dog dying but this track steps up a gear and arguably provides support to those in need.

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I’ve always loved his music and always will in all probability. I wasn’t a great fan of the man, he was a complex entertainer who in fairness carried a lot of baggage, some of his own making, others out of his control. Whoever or whatever the cause, he came across as a man/boy unsure of his own mind.

With each hour that passes, we the public and internet followers learn a little more about the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. Was it a “simple cardiac arrest” ?

Were prescription drugs involved?  If they were, was it a case of too many drugs over a sustained period of time or a morphine overdose by his physician?

The toxicology report is expected to come back within six weeks and given the sensational story and the family involved the coroner is unlikely to be pressured into making rash statements or cause of death.
As I write this short piece, Michael Jackson’s music occupies the top 15 best selling albums on Amazon! It is to be expected as fans and new fans clamour to hear his music. Thriller remains the best selling album of all time and it is unlikely to be beaten. When his comeback album (Invincible) “failed” despite selling 10 million albums he never released another album. His highly anticipated 50 night tour at the O2 in London was expected to kick off a new desire for his music.

Unfortunately the tour will now never materialise but in death his “off the wall” music, just like Elvis, will live on and become more popular. What a macabre and wonderful world we live in.

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Weeds Season Two on Blu-Ray

I can’t quite believe what I’m looking at! Amazon sent me and probably thousands more an email this morning showcasing their latest blu-ray offers and included in the mix are truly amazing bargains! Weeds season 1 and 2 priced at $12.99 each – Hurry!

When Weeds was launched a few seasons ago I didn’t know how to take it – the soundtrack put me off the programme and despite the top notch acting and comedy I couldn’t get it out of my head so I left the programme in limbo a third of the way into season one!

However on receiving the email this morning I am sorely tempted to give Weeds another go especially considering both season one and two are priced at just $12.99 each! That’s right, $12.99 for a full season of blu-ray goodness folks!

Season three is priced at a very respectable $17.99 and considering Amazon want over $80 for the boxset (season 1-3) it’s a bargain! If you are looking for a review on Season 1 then look no further …..!!

For those of you in the UK or worldwide the three seasons are multi regional – to check those and other titles please visit the following website

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Free Schapelle

Hello everyone, hope you are all well and enjoying a lovely Sunday. I did a search for the latest news on Schapelle this evening and rather worryingly came across and article from the coastconfidential website claiming that very few people in Bali knew of Schapelle’s plight and condition.

Given her status abroad in Australia and America you would have thought that she would be well remembered in Bali, but it appears that few locals have given her a thought in recent times. The conditions she currently lives in are deplorable and are not fit for a rat let alone a human being, something has to be done.

CC report that “There are requests to visit Schapelle and bring her a present or some comfort but it is virtually impossible.

“Unless you are family or apply beforehand and Schapelle wants to see you, it is not going to happen.”

If you read Schapelle’s book “No More Tomorrows” you will discover that she gets tired of people turning up to have a gawp at her just because they feel like killing half an hour or they just want to return home saying they’ve met Schapelle Corby. The obvious problem with this is that people with true and honest intentions could possibly lose out and not get chance to meet her.

Way back in 2005 the Sydney Morning Herald reported:-

HER cause has spun off enough souvenirs to rival a royal wedding and generated more polls than a federal election campaign. There are T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers and unconfirmed sightings at suburban barbecues of stubbie coolers bearing the same slogan: Free Schapelle.

Her surname (Corby, if by some small chance you missed it) has become almost superfluous, if not in the stifling courtrooms of Bali, then in the minds of the Australian public.

In other related news it appears that the global protest in support of imprisoned Australian Schapelle Corby arrived at the United Nations this morning (March 6th). Photographs of people demonstrating by holding “Free Schapelle” cards in cities throughout North America, Europe, Australasia and even the Middle East, were presented to UN representatives and officials. Performing the delivery was Tara Hack, the indie-pop artist, whose “Saya Tidak Bersalah (I’m Not Guilty)” has become a global anthem of support.

One thing that does surprise me is the apparent lack of support or knowledge of Schapelle in the UK. I haven’t met anyone who is aware of Schapelle’s terrible conditions in jail or her trumped up drug charges. This is certainly something that has to be rectified – however I do fear that there is very little hope of releasing Schapelle with into Australian custody or set free.

We can live in hope.

I was out celebrating my brother’s birthday today, a lovely lunch at one of the premier hotels a few miles from my house. I sat there enjoying the silver service, great wine and amazing food – not forgetting the wonderful company -  not once did I think of Schapelle, her prison conditions – let’s face it, there is very little I can do. I can post a blog however and in some small way I hope it helps preserve her public memory.

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Schapelle Corby's Ganja Queen

I watched Channel Nine’s “Schapelle Corby: Hidden Truth” a few weeks ago and although I thought Schapelle innocent before I watched the two part documentary, I was left with a few more questions than I had anticipated.  The documentary was my first insight into the allegations against Schapelle I had come across (other than the net) and it left me with a slight feeling of confusion as to who was telling the truth, who were the good guys and who I could trust?

With this in mind I decided to read (my first impressions) Schapelle’s book “No More Tomorrows” and I wasn’t prepared for such a marked difference between the TV programme and the book. The television documentary gave, in my opinion, a fair and balanced version of events, however, for me the book cleared things up and laid to rest a few questions I had lingering. This is only my opinion and I’m positive other readers/viewers will take a different view.

The Ganja Queen DVD is available to buy on DVD in America. (Not available in the UK) – please note this is listed as a 92 minute dvd.

With this in mind I decided to re-visit the two part documentary and hopefully see what I missed first time around. The programme, known in the United States as “The Ganja Queen” was well received abroad and certainly helped bring Schapelle’s plight to thousands of people unaware of the travesty of justice that had befallen the Queenslander.

Schapelle Corby in Court

I had two nagging doubts from my first viewing and they centred on the two “supporting” roles within the documentary; namely Mercedes Corby and Ron Bakir (inc Robin Tampoe). I had (and have) no doubt of the love within the family both from Mercedes, her mother and her father. However on just viewing the documentary I don’t think they were shown in the best light. The book in comparison clears all these doubts up with a rebuttal from Schapelle herself.

It is shocking to see how much the Corby’s were taken in with Bakir and his legal team ahead of the trial. The spin worked well for a long time but slowly and surely doubts surfaced within the Corby camp as to the true intentions of Bakir and his team. The Corby’s were pressured into signing contracts under strict conditions that they were not to let this be known to the media in fear of negative publicity. I hadn’t realised that until reading the book.

Mercedes (for me) in the documentary came across as a very angry young woman. But isn’t that what you would expect?  I’m not quite sure why in my mind I criticised her for being that way. After reading the book I took another look, allowed myself to re-evaluate her initial impressions on me and I have changed my opinion.  It did take the book to allow my thoughts to , just one example of how powerful the book is.

It’s quite strange watching the documentary, reading the book and again re-visiting the programme. The places within the prison and court come to life. They offer a different meaning, a deeper emotional connection and a better understanding to the conditions Schapelle faces on a daily basis. Descriptive scenes of her mother cleaning the court holding cells, the prison visiting area and the grounds come to life thanks to the written word.

Lily Lubis is another character that receives a good airing on the documentary but on reading the book you had the distinct feeling she was a weak woman and an even weaker lawyer who in essence did little to help Schapelle’s cause. I have to admit I felt sorry for her when she was fired from the team but this was before I read the book and discovered she wasn’t a court recommended lawyer.

In conclusion if you are in any doubt, confused or want to know more about the case for a truly balanced opinion I urge you to watch Channel Nine’s two part documentary and Schapelle’s international bestseller “No More Tomorrows“. The book isn’t available in Australia but you can buy from the UK. or if you prefer buy from the United States.

Ganja Queen is also available to buy on DVD in America

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So with that in mind, I spent a few hours and came up with the following video. The stills set to Adele’s “Make you feel my love”, I thought the words rang true. Hope you enjoy it, it was great fun to collate and I hope to do another one in the future.

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Nowhere else to go

I was totally shocked to see that it had been well over a year since I last posted on my blog and thought it was about time I got my arse into gear and updated it with a post from 2009! Apologies to all my readers and I promise to write more often this year – even if most of it will be inane drivel!

On to my subject matter for this post! I have just finished reading Schapelle Corby’s International bestseller “No More Tomorrows” in which she talks about her state of mind, the court process, how things went from bad to worst and a frank and honest account of her time at the Kerobokan prison.

The book from start to finish is an emotional roller-coaster. It is a truly wonderful read, (can I say that I enjoyed it, is that wrong?) often frightening that this sort of thing could happen to an innocent traveller going off to Bali for a holiday. I’ve been to Bali and had a wonderful time but anyone reading this book or aware of the Corby case will surely have second thoughts about travelling.

Schapelle’s biggest crime as she admits in her book was her failure to lock her boogie board when checking in in Brisbane. I myself have no doubt of her innocence and I sincerely hope she does get justice and make it home sooner rather than later. It doesn’t look great at the moment after exhausting the appeal process – what a joke that was. But the Corby family live in hope.

The book, co written with Kathryn Bonella, took 10 months to write and is a tribute to the determination, courage and hope that Schapelle has despite the weak legal team, a lawyer who cried more often than she spoke in court and the incesant spin from Ron Bakir and Robyn Tampoe.

As described in her book, she was never going to get a fair trial and the prosecutors and the judge were only going to give the guilty verdict. Innocent until “proven” guilty was never a factor. You cannot compare Corby’s case to that of the Bali Nine but the Indonesian Government were adamant they would use Corby to make a point. Despite the harsh sentence handed down, it doesn’t appear to have stopped Westerners from drug trafficking.

I have no doubt in my mind that Schapelle Corby is innocent, she is a victim of gross miscarriage of justice and a lack of support and investigation by the AFP and Sydney and Brisbane airport security. I’m sure this post comes across as a rather one sided post but I read nothing in the book to support a guilty verdict.

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The biggest story to attract my attention was that of Indonesia -based Australian Nicholas Morley who has designed a controversial t-shirt attacking Schapelle Corby and the Bali economy. The t-shirt, depicted here in the image reads “Four kilo anti-hero” and retails for $79. Also printed on the shirt, in much smaller writing, are the words, “Schapelle Corby is guilty and has cost Bali millions of dollars in lost revenue”. Sarah Grant also writes a piece in the Sunday Telegraph.

A significant proportion of the profits from the sale of the shirt will go to the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage in Bali despite British-born Alison Chambers, who runs the orphanage, having never seen the garment. She also proclaims she was unaware that the shirt’s message clearly relates to Schapelle.

There’s no doubt that the orphanage does great things for young children and I guess it’s just a case of a line and has it been crossed in this case? I have to say I am a Corby supporter from afar – I’ve never met her or know much about her as a person – I guess I try to see the good in people and believe in her innocence.

A law exists in the UK and Australia that criminals cannot profit from their crime, surely there must be something written that a company or individual cannot profit from said criminal in a blatant form of jumping on the bandwagon?

It is quite clear that the Bali tourist industry has been severely hit since the Corby case, I for one know at least 15 people who have been to Bali and will never travel there again. The beneficiary in this case, or a portion, the orphanage is a good one – I just wish there was another way to gain some much needed cash boost. Like they say “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”.

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