Queensland: Griffith University’s Innocence Project recommends a Federal Government Inquiry be held to investigate issues raised by the Schapelle Corby case.
The project, established by the Griffith Law School in 2001 under the patronage of celebrated justice advocate Rubin “Hurricane” Carter to review miscarriages of justice, suggests the government has a responsibility to investigate information and evidence pointing to Corby’s innocence.
“The Corby case has raised substantive issues occurring on Australian soil that could point to Ms Corby’s innocence,” Griffith Innocence Project Director Lynne Weathered said.
“Our government has a primary responsibility to investigate whether one of its citizens has been unjustly accused as a result of happenings here in Australia.”
Queensland lawyer and Griffith Innocence Project co-founder Mr Chris Nyst said an independent Commission of Inquiry was the only way to investigate claims made by Ms Corby’s defence that the drugs were planted in Schapelle’s luggage.
“This is an Australian problem, it is not an Indonesian problem,” Mr Nyst said. “The substantive issues the Corby defence team raised relate primarily to shortcomings with Australian airline security, not with the Indonesian courts and that is a proper matter for inquiry and resolution in Australia by Australian authorities,” he said.
“The Corby case illustrates that when Australian travellers arrive in foreign destinations, they are going to be stuck with whatever is found in their luggage and whatever justice system applies. They need to have confidence that they arrive with the same contents in their bags that they left with.
“Corby claims the drugs were not in her bag when she handed them to the airline, and Australian airline authorities are apparently unable to deny that assertion. Serious allegations have been made regarding airline baggage handlers tampering with baggage in transit, and drug syndicates working within Australian airports.
“This is an issue that affects every Australian who intends to travel. It should be comprehensively investigated so that Australians can be confident that luggage given over to the security of an airline will remain secure.”
The Griffith Innocence Project recommends the Australian Government establish a full judicial inquiry into the issues raised by the Corby case, including the account of prison inmate John Ford and alleged drug trafficker Ronnie Veganza, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) response, the AFP investigation into baggage handlers at Sydney airport, and the recently disclosed Custom’s report.
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