Australian guilty on drugs charge

Corby appeared shocked by the sentence

An Indonesian court has found Australian woman Schapelle Corby guilty of smuggling drugs into Bali and sentenced her to 20 years in jail.

Corby's family said she would appeal against the verdict, which could have seen her sentenced to death.

Corby, 27, said her luggage had been tampered with, after she was arrested last October with 4.1kg (9lbs) of marijuana in her bags at Bali airport.

Her case has stirred widespread public sympathy in Australia.

Corby fought back tears and there were screams from her supporters in court, as the verdict and sentence were announced.

"Judges are of the opinion that the accused imported marijuana," Judge Wayan Suastrawan said.

"She was arrested red-handed at the airport."

The beautician from Queensland had continually pleaded her innocence to the charges against her, claiming that baggage handlers in Australia put the drugs in her luggage as part of a smuggling operation that went wrong.

Her parents were in court to hear the verdict.

Her mother shouted "liar" when the judge gave his decision. Corby smiled weakly, and repeated: "It's OK, it's OK".

Australian concern

More than 100 Australian journalists had travelled to Bali to report on the case and the judges' two-and-a-half-hour summing up was carried live on Australian TV.

In pictures: Corby verdict

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the government would supply lawyers to help her appeal.

Prior to the court ruling, Australian Prime Minister John Howard had called on people to accept the verdict, amid widespread public belief Corby was innocent.

He said that although everyone "feels for this girl", it was necessary to "trust the Indonesian justice system".

"We have to respect the justice system of other countries," he said.

Canberra had urged Indonesian prosecutors not to ask for the death penalty.

There have been calls for the government to press for her to serve her sentence back in Australia.

"The government is going to begin discussions formally with the Indonesians in the next 10 days about the prisoner transfer agreement," said Mr Downer.

Many Australians now say they would boycott Bali, a destination desperately in need of tourists after the disastrous impact of the October 2002 bombing.