28 May 2017

Schapelle Corby back home in Aus

9:16 am on 28 May 2017

Schapelle Corby has arrived home in Australia, touching down at Brisbane International Airport just after 5:00am today, more than 12 years after she was convicted of taking marijuana into Bali.

Schapelle Corby (left) posted this photo of herself and her sister on Instagram as they were preparing to leave Bali.

Schapelle Corby (left) posted this photo of herself and her sister on Instagram as they were preparing to leave Bali. Photo: Instagram: schapelle.corby

Corby made a late switch to travel with Malindo Air, not Virgin Australia as originally expected.

Spokeswoman for the family, Eleanor Whitman, said the family had safely left the airport.

"To all those in Australia and all those in Bali who have been there throughout this difficult journey, your support has not gone unnoticed," she said.

"In the spirit of humility and the spirit of dignity, we ask all parties to show respect for the family's privacy during this time."

Corby was arrested in 2004 carrying more than 4 kilograms of marijuana in her boogie board bag and returns to Australia as a convicted drug trafficker who has served her jail time.

One of Corby's key defences put forward by her legal team and supporters was that corrupt baggage handlers had placed the marijuana in her bag.

More than 200 police officers and private security guards made sure she was deported from Indonesia last night without a hitch.

There were chaotic scenes as she negotiated her way to the Bali airport via the parole office where she signed forms guaranteeing her freedom.

A massive media contingent staked out Brisbane Airport anticipating her arrival.

Now she is back on Australian soil, Corby can speak freely but not for profit, with proceed of crime laws meaning she cannot sell her story.

The 39-year-old set up an Instagram account recently and began posting photos during her last hours in Bali.

She had tens of thousands of followers within hours, with the comments posted overwhelmingly supportive.

- ABC

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