REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Monday May 16, 2005

IT was only two paragraphs long but it could be Schapelle Corby’s last hope.

On orders from Prime Minister John Howard, a brief letter was finally been sent to Indonesia confirming Australian police were investigating a drug racket at Sydney airport that appeared to be identical to the alleged racket Ms Corby claimed has wrongly entangled her.

Mr Howard organised for two letters to be sent after Ms Corby sent him a personal message, pleading for him to help get her out of a Bali jail.

“I feel for the girl,” said Mr Howard.

“I think the whole country has been drawn into this and I can only repeat my fervent hope that the verdict is true and fair and right and just.”

In one letter, sent to Ms Corby’s Indonesian lawyer, Lily Lubas for forwarding to the case’s judges, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade First Assistant Secretary Rod Smith confirmed police were investigating an allegedly identical drug racket at Sydney airport.

”Following a joint investigation which has been conducted over the last six months, the Australian Federal Police and the New South Wales Police have dismantled a Sydney-based syndicate involved in the trafficking of drugs,’’ wrote Mr Smith.

”Police are currently investigating a number of baggage handlers who work at Sydney International Airport about these drug trafficking activities. The police believe these baggage handlers were on duty on 8 October, 2004, when a shipment of drugs was brought into Sydney.’’