Australia awaits Corby drug fate
(CNN) -- Accused Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will today learn her fate when a panel of three judges deliver their verdict in her Indonesian trial.
The 27-year old could face the death penalty if she is found guilty of smuggling 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into the holiday island of Bali from Australia.
Corby arrived at the Bali courthouse just after 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) Friday morning, smiling but looking nervous.
About 30 minutes later Chief Judge Linton Sirait arrived and began reading the court's judgment, a process which could take more than two hours.
Prosectors have demanded life in jail for Corby and have vowed to appeal anything less. The court's panel of judges, however, are free to impose whatever sentence they choose, including a possible death sentence for this crime.
Security has been stepped up around the Bali courthouse Friday morning with more than 100 officers guarding the building amid concerns of a terror threat as Australian and foreign media scramble to cover the verdict.
Already the case has triggered a series of threats against Indonesian diplomatic missions in Australia and Indonesia.
As she awaits judgment Corby, through a spokeswoman, has asked fellow Australians to pray for her and is reported to be anxious but confident about the outcome.
"Australia, today is my day. Please pray for me. I pray for justice every day," Corby said according to a report in Australian newspaper, The Daily Telegraph.
"I want to go home."
Corby, who has always maintained her innocence, was arrested at Bali's Denpasar Airport on October 8 last year after drugs were found in one of her bags upon her arrival.
During her trial Corby maintained that she was the victim of a drug trafficking operation involving baggage handlers at Australian airports.
She has also denied prosecution claims that she admitted the drugs were hers, arguing that the translation of her statement was wrong.
To back her case, Corby's defense team flew Australian prisoner John Ford to Bali to testify about a conversation he heard in jail.
However his evidence -- that Corby was an unwitting "drug mule" -- was dismissed as hearsay and having no legal standing by the prosecution.
Later, Corby's defense was bouyed by news that Australian Federal Police and Qantas Airways revealed they were investigating the role of Qantas baggage handlers in a cocaine smuggling operation.
The Australian government subsequently wrote a letter to the chief judge regarding the investigation, but it remains unclear if it would have any influence on the verdict.
Corby's defense also raised concerns in the court about the failure of police to fingerprint the plastic bag containing the drugs or videotape the search.
In addition a request to have the marijuana tested to reveal its source, was denied.
Her case also faced problems when her financial backer, Australian businessman, Ron Bakir, claimed the prosecution would ask for a lighter sentence if they were paid a bribe. He later withdrew the remarks and apologized in writing to the prosecution.
The case, which has sparked frenzied media interest in Australia and enormous public support for Corby, comes at a time of improving relations between Australia and Indonesia.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he would not interfere with the Indonesian justice system but hoped the court would deliver a "true and fair and just verdict."
The Australian Government this week said the two countries had discussed a possible prisoner swap plan for Corby should she be found guilty.
Under the plan Corby would spent her time incarcerated in an Australian jail.
