An appeal by Schapelle Corby against her 20-year jail sentence for drug smuggling could risk having the term extended to life, an Australian senior lawyer who has offered his services free of charge said.
Perth QC Tom Percy has been asked by the Australian government with Mark Trowell QC to
assist Corby's defence team on appeal.
Corby was sentenced to 20 years in jail and a A$14,000 fine by a Bali court yesterday after she was caught with 4.1kg of marijuana in her bodyboard bag at Denpasar airport in October last year.
Mr Percy said he doubted she would have been found guilty if tried on the same charges in Australia.
He told the ABC an appeal could be risky for Corby and her 20-year sentence could be turned into life in jail.
Mr Percy said he felt sorry for the former 27-year-old Gold Coast woman and believed if she had been charged in Australia with the same crime her punishment would have been far less.
He said his offer of help has been made several times before to the Corby defence team.
Mr Percy, who is in Bali acting for one of the Bali Nine, said he was yet to talk to Corby's lawyers but was prepared to offer his assistance pro bono.
"You don't go and pick cases -- cases pick you," he said.
"Every case that I've had pro bono I've never said 'Well I like that, I'm interested in that, I'll ring someone up and see if I can get a piece of the action'."
The Bali nine were arrested at Denpasar airport and a Kuta hotel on April 17, following a tip-off by the Australian Federal Police.
Five were arrested at the airport, four, including one woman, with a total of 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies, while another four were arrested later at a hotel with 300g of heroin and narcotics equipment.
All have yet to appear in court and could face the death penalty.
- AAP
