CORBY'S LAST HOPE

CANBERRA: The Federal Government could appeal directly to the
President of Indonesia for Schapelle Corby's freedom.

A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said yesterday that
Canberra was waiting for confirmation from Indonesia that Corby's
original sentence of 20-years had been reinstated.

She said though Corby's fate was a matter for the Indonesian justice
system, the Federal Government was considering avenues of appeal.

The spokeswoman said Mr Ruddock did not want to jeopardise Corby's
case by making public comments that an appeal directly to Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was an option being looked at.

An Indonesian court reinstated Corby's sentence for drug smuggling to
20 years from 15 years after it had been reduced on appeal last year.

Corby was arrested on October 8, 2004, after customs officers at
Bali's airport found 4.1kg of marijuana in her bodyboard bag.

At a media conference yesterday, Prime Minister John Howard said only
that he respected the Indonesian justice system and that Corby's drug
case was a matter for the court.

Mr Howard said he did not want to express a view on that," he said.

"I respect the Indonesian justice system. I hope that whenever
Australians are dealt with by foreign courts they receive justice.