Bakir asks Corby for $500,000, mother says

BRISBANE - Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir has told convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby she owes him A$500,000, ($548,185) her family says.

Mr Bakir denies the claim, saying if he is not repaid any money for his role in Corby's defence, "so be it."

Mr Bakir has been regarded as Corby's "White Knight", but the convicted drug smuggler's mother Rosleigh Rose has now questioned the motives and labelled him a "Black Knight".

Ms Rose said the family was unaware the Australian government had paid for the Indonesian lawyers at her daughter's Bali trial, because Mr Bakir took credit for bankrolling the case.

"Schapelle goes (to Ron), 'All that money?'," Ms Rose told tomorrow's edition of the The Bulletin magazine.

"He goes, 'Don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to pay me back when you get out'.

"We didn't even ask him to come on board. He just offered. And now she owes him money?"

Corby was sentenced to 20 years in a Bali prison last month after being found guilty by a Denpasar court of trying to smuggle 4.1kg of cannabis into Indonesia last October.

The defence and prosecution have lodged appeals, with the prosecution saying the sentence was too light.

Ms Rose said she feared Mr Bakir had tried to trademark the Schapelle name, after registering the company name Schapelle Corby Pty Ltd without informing Corby or her family.

"It's makes me cranky ... people are trying to make money out of Schapelle in that hellhole," Ms Rose said.

"He (Bakir) might have good intentions but he's thinking dollar signs".

Mr Bakir, who has repeatedly said Australian government inaction prompted him to financially assist Corby's defence team, denied he asked Corby to pay him $500,000.

"No, that wasn't said," Mr Bakir told the magazine.

"There was a discussion that took place between myself and the family. I said if I can recoup any money, then thanks. If I can't, so be it."

He said he would soon disclose the figure of his financial contribution to Corby's defence.

Mr Bakir also denied any trademarking attempt and said Corby was the only beneficiary of Schapelle Corby Pty Ltd.

Ms Rose said she was also furious Mr Bakir posted Corby's personal bank account details on a website he set up before the family even knew who he was, so people could make direct donations.

Ms Rose said she had approached a lawyer to protect her daughter from numerous parties seemingly out to rob Corby of a "potential goldmine".

The Bulletin alleges company DAG International has lodged an application to trademark the words "Schapelle Corby" in relation to rights to produce and sell books and movies, without approaching her family.

Allan Hawley-Jacobs, who runs a small Gold Coast business, is attempting to trademark the name "Schapelle" in association with a raft of products from antiperspirant to nautical equipment, The Bulletin says.

Mark Trowell, one of the two Perth QCs appointed by the Australian government to Corby's defence, told The Bulletin Corby had been forced to sign documents giving away 50 per cent of any earnings she might make from films and book rights, and payments from film and television studios.

However, Corby's sister Mercedes said nothing had been signed.

- AAP