Bali court to reopen case of convicted Australian drug smuggler

Judges on the Indonesian island of Bali have agreed to hear new evidence in the case of a woman from Australia sentenced to 20 years in prison for smuggling drugs.

• FROM MAY 27, 2005: Australian woman gets 20 years for smuggling pot into Bali

Schapelle Corby received her prison sentence in May after 4.1 kilograms of marijuana were found in her bag when she arrived on the resort island of Bali in October 2004.

Made Lingga, the chief judge of Bali's high court, said Corby's lawyers will be allowed to present 12 new witnesses. Some are expected to say they heard the drugs were planted in the 27-year-old's bag.

Corby says the drugs were planted by baggage handlers in Australia.

After the new evidence is heard, the court is expected to decide whether to reconsider her sentence.

Corby's conviction and sentence prompted anger among Australians who believe the drugs were planted on her. The court decision led to protests in Australia and threats against the Indonesian embassy.

The Australian government condemned the threats and apologized to the Indonesians.

No date for the appeal hearing has been set, but it's expected to be within a few weeks.