Australians shocked by sentence
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Australians have reacted with shock to the severity of the sentence handed down over drug charges against 27-year-old beauty student Schapelle Corby.
Corby, who was convicted Friday of importing 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Indonesia, was fined and sentenced to 20 years in jail.
The case has dominated media in Australia for the past month and workers were glued to television screens as the verdict was broadcast live throughout the nation.
A recent survey showed 90 percent of Australians believed Corby to be innocent of the charges, believing her defense argument that the drugs found in her possession in Denpasar, Bali airport, were planted there.
Even before the sentence, there were calls for Australians to boycott the popular holiday destination of Bali and to ban Indonesian products.
Other Australians have called for the government to withdraw the hundreds of millions of dollars of aid sent to Indonesia following the December 26 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Aceh region.
Commenting after the verdict, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander told Australians it would be counterproductive to criticize the Indonesian legal system and would impact on Australia "very very badly."
He also urged Australians not to attack or threaten Indonesians or call the nations missions.
Downer said the government was going to begin discussions formally with the Indonesian government over a prisoner exchange program, and was hopeful that such an agreement could be struck before the appeals process for Corby's case was concluded.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said earlier that Australians should accept the verdict.
"We have to accept the justice systems of other countries," he said.
