bitchgirl
University Life
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15719609-2,00.html
SCHAPELLE Corby has fired her entire Indonesian legal team after allegations they had planned to bribe judges hearing her appeal against her 20-year jail sentence for drug smuggling.
Corby hired a Java-based firm to take over her case today, as allegations of incompetence, bribery plots and massive legal bills descended into a public slanging match between her Indonesian and Australian lawyers.
Her sister Mercedes Corby broke the news in a brief mobile phone text message to AAP.
Walter Tonetto, the non-legal co-ordinator of Corby's new team at Facta Associates, a firm based in the city of Bandung near Jakarta, said Corby made the change following media reports that her Indonesian lawyers had planned to bribe three High Court judges considering her appeal.
"Once Schapelle heard people talking about bribery, she wanted to make a fresh start," Mr Tonetto said by phone.
"She does not want to be connected with anything improper and illegal."
Corby was also saddened by the impact of the case at a political level, Mr Tonetto said.
"This is about rebuilding the relationship between Indonesia and Australia, that's very, very important," he said.
Separately, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir tonight severed all ties with Corby and her family, who have accused him of asking her to repay him $500,000 for his part in her defence.
Vasu Rasiah, an adviser to the original team, said Corby delivered the news to her main Bali lawyer, Lily Sri Rahayu Lubis, in a phone call from Kerobokan Prison.
Mr Rasiah said he listened in on the conversation via a speaker on Ms Lubis's mobile phone.
"We said if that's what you decided, good luck with it, we wish you all the best," he said.
"Honestly, it is a big relief."
The dramatic change comes as the Bali High Court considers the defence's appeal against Corby's conviction and 20-year jail sentence for smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali last October.
The court is also looking at a separate appeal by the prosecution, which wants Corby's jail term increased to life.
Mr Rasiah said he did not think the change was in Corby's best interests.
"At this junction, its very bad (for the case)," he said.
Mr Tonetto, who met Corby in prison today for the first time, said he was concerned about taking on the case at such a late stage.
But he believes there is still time to prove her innocence.
"Schapelle has done something very risky, abandoning her lawyers during the appeal process, it is a courageous decision and the right decision," Mr Tonetto said.
Mr Rasiah blamed the break-up of Corby's defence effort on Perth QCs Mark Trowell and Tom Percy, who joined Corby's team on request of the Australian Government to advise in the appeal process.
Mr Trowell this week accused Mr Rasiah and Ms Lubis of asking for $500,000 to bribe the appeal judges.
Mr Rasiah insists the money was to have been used for an Indonesian public relations campaign for Corby.
"There was no call for them to go in the media, everything they promised they did not do," Mr Rasiah said of Messrs Trowell and Percy.
However, Mr Tonetto said Corby did not blame the Australian lawyers, and they could still act as her advisers in Australia.
She also had no quarrel with Jakarta-based lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea or Erwin Siregar, Mr Tonetto said, referring to the highest-profile and respected members of her now former Indonesian legal team.
"There's no hard feelings," he said.
"Schapelle's sad about the split but realises what's in her best interests."
Mr Rasiah, meanwhile, said Corby's original lawyers were still waiting to be paid for their services, even though the Australian Government, which is providing financial assistance to the Corby family, approving in-principle to pay the team $94,000.
The Government sent a cheque for $US46,000 in April, but it was incorrectly addressed so no Indonesian bank would cash it, he said.
"We have not yet received a cent for nine months of work," he said.
To add insult to injury, he said, the Government was refusing to pay him anything because he is not a lawyer, he said.
SCHAPELLE Corby has fired her entire Indonesian legal team after allegations they had planned to bribe judges hearing her appeal against her 20-year jail sentence for drug smuggling.
Corby hired a Java-based firm to take over her case today, as allegations of incompetence, bribery plots and massive legal bills descended into a public slanging match between her Indonesian and Australian lawyers.
Her sister Mercedes Corby broke the news in a brief mobile phone text message to AAP.
Walter Tonetto, the non-legal co-ordinator of Corby's new team at Facta Associates, a firm based in the city of Bandung near Jakarta, said Corby made the change following media reports that her Indonesian lawyers had planned to bribe three High Court judges considering her appeal.
"Once Schapelle heard people talking about bribery, she wanted to make a fresh start," Mr Tonetto said by phone.
"She does not want to be connected with anything improper and illegal."
Corby was also saddened by the impact of the case at a political level, Mr Tonetto said.
"This is about rebuilding the relationship between Indonesia and Australia, that's very, very important," he said.
Separately, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir tonight severed all ties with Corby and her family, who have accused him of asking her to repay him $500,000 for his part in her defence.
Vasu Rasiah, an adviser to the original team, said Corby delivered the news to her main Bali lawyer, Lily Sri Rahayu Lubis, in a phone call from Kerobokan Prison.
Mr Rasiah said he listened in on the conversation via a speaker on Ms Lubis's mobile phone.
"We said if that's what you decided, good luck with it, we wish you all the best," he said.
"Honestly, it is a big relief."
The dramatic change comes as the Bali High Court considers the defence's appeal against Corby's conviction and 20-year jail sentence for smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali last October.
The court is also looking at a separate appeal by the prosecution, which wants Corby's jail term increased to life.
Mr Rasiah said he did not think the change was in Corby's best interests.
"At this junction, its very bad (for the case)," he said.
Mr Tonetto, who met Corby in prison today for the first time, said he was concerned about taking on the case at such a late stage.
But he believes there is still time to prove her innocence.
"Schapelle has done something very risky, abandoning her lawyers during the appeal process, it is a courageous decision and the right decision," Mr Tonetto said.
Mr Rasiah blamed the break-up of Corby's defence effort on Perth QCs Mark Trowell and Tom Percy, who joined Corby's team on request of the Australian Government to advise in the appeal process.
Mr Trowell this week accused Mr Rasiah and Ms Lubis of asking for $500,000 to bribe the appeal judges.
Mr Rasiah insists the money was to have been used for an Indonesian public relations campaign for Corby.
"There was no call for them to go in the media, everything they promised they did not do," Mr Rasiah said of Messrs Trowell and Percy.
However, Mr Tonetto said Corby did not blame the Australian lawyers, and they could still act as her advisers in Australia.
She also had no quarrel with Jakarta-based lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea or Erwin Siregar, Mr Tonetto said, referring to the highest-profile and respected members of her now former Indonesian legal team.
"There's no hard feelings," he said.
"Schapelle's sad about the split but realises what's in her best interests."
Mr Rasiah, meanwhile, said Corby's original lawyers were still waiting to be paid for their services, even though the Australian Government, which is providing financial assistance to the Corby family, approving in-principle to pay the team $94,000.
The Government sent a cheque for $US46,000 in April, but it was incorrectly addressed so no Indonesian bank would cash it, he said.
"We have not yet received a cent for nine months of work," he said.
To add insult to injury, he said, the Government was refusing to pay him anything because he is not a lawyer, he said.
