REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tuesday June 14, 2005

AN Indonesian TV soap star, once married into the powerful Suharto clan, joined the dual gun-toting, high-profile Jakarta lawyer on the Schapelle Corby defence team.

Annisa Tri Hapsari, well known for many leading roles in popular Indonesian dramas, was hired by Hotman Paris Hutapea as an “information officer” who could swing Indonesian public opinion into the 27-year-old Tugun woman’s corner.

The flamboyant Mr Hutapea, dripping in his trademark expensive jewellery said public opinion was critical in Indonesia.

“Usually Indonesian judges are not keen on giving a decision that is contrary to the public view,” he said.

Schapelle’s mum, Rosleigh Rose, said that ’hopefully they (Schapelle’s legal team) know what they are doing’.

“I can’t say any more than that because I don’t know what they are thinking. All I want them to do is get Schapelle freed as soon as possible,” she said.

She said Schapelle was in good spirits and both she and Schapelle’s sister Mercedes were enjoying some quality time with their father, Michael, who was suffering from terminal cancer.

One of the two Perth QCs assisting the Corby defence team, Mark Trowell, said he did not see how the actress could help the defence.

“It is certainly not something that we would think to do here,’’ he said. “I would have thought the time would have been better spent preparing the appeal.

“Public opinion is not likely to influence a judge.”