Schapelle Corby appeal date set

Corby says marijuana was stashed in her bag by someone else

An court in Bali will start hearing the appeal case of Schapelle Corby on 20 July, court officials have said.

Corby was found guilty of drug smuggling in May and sentenced to 20 years in an Indonesian jail, despite outrage in her native Australia.

Her lawyers are due to present new witnesses in the appeal, including some who support her argument that the marijuana found in her bag was planted.

The defence wanted to delay the hearing until 5 August to gain extra time.

"I'm having problems to bring the additional witnesses because ... [their] status is prisoners. Therefore it needs bureaucracy between the Indonesian and the Australian governments to bring them," one of Corby's lawyers, Erwin Siregar, told Reuters news agency.

But chief judge Linton Sirait said: "We have decided to hold a trial to examine additional witnesses... on 20 July."

Australian support

Corby, 27, was arrested last October when 4.1kg (9lbs) of marijuana was found in her bag.

She has repeatedly insisted that the drugs were planted by someone else.

Many of her supporters have been critical of the Indonesian legal system, concerns that were reinvigorated last month by allegations that Corby's defence team tried to secure A$500,000 of Australian government money to bribe the judges hearing her appeal.

Following the allegation - made by Australian QC Mark Trowell - Corby sacked her entire Indonesian legal team, before rehiring most of it two days later.

Some Australians have said they will not visit Bali in protest at her jailing.