SCHAPELLE !

It seems that Shapelle Corby has joined the pantheon of hero/villains who make up the folklore of this country. Her name will go into the history books alongside Ned Kelly, Alan Bond - and from the far side of villainy - Christopher Skase !

The Schapelle story has unfolded over nearly ten long years.   Suddenly, Australia saw images of a twenty-seven year old girl with a very appealing face in the hands of the Indonesian police and customs service, accused of smuggling four kilograms of Marijuana into that country in a boogie board cover.

To many people, this simply didn't make sense.   Marijuana sold in Australia commanded a far higher price than could be obtained in Indonesia and the penalty for possession was far more lightly punished.  It seemed a " coals to Newcastle " scenario - and Shapelle protested her innocence.

The Indonesians took a hard line and there was talk of the death penalty.  Australian TV audiences were treated to the long trial saga - and shocked when the judges handed down a twenty year sentence. Schapelle commenced her incarceration in a dreaded Indonesian prison, right in the heart of Australia's tourist playground of Bali.

In the course of normal events, she might have been forgotten - but her sister Mercedes kept her case prominently in the media spotlight.   A steady stream of explanation scenarios did the rounds in the media and it was suggested that Schapelle's mental health was in danger because of the degrading prison conditions.   The public never tired of new versions of the " Schapelle story " !

Hope was kindled when Indonesia began to grant remission of sentence awards to foreign prisoners on Indonesian national days.   She steadily accumulated these sentence reductions and there was talk of an agreement between the two countries - to exchange prisoners and allow the remaining sentences to be served in each prisoners homeland.    These discussions failed to reach any sort of finality.

Finally, with remissions - Shapelle began to approach the mid term of her sentence, and the possibility of parole entered the equation.   There was hostility to the suggestion from some quarters in Indonesia - and the negotiations proceeded with agonising slowness.   It was breaking new legal ground and the paper trail began it's tortuous journey through the various government departments that needed to agree for a prisoner release to happen.

Finally - success !   Amazing scenes as a huge media contingent surged around the gate to Kerobokan  prison as Schapelle was propelled through the crowd by Indonesian police and prison guards, covered head to foot and with her face masked by a hat and veil.   This travelling circus needed to make it's way to several government agencies to sign release forms - and finally Schapelle disappeared behind the gates of one of the islands premium resort hideaways - for her first taste of privacy in nearly ten years.

Interest is now swirling around the size of the  reward she will gain from giving her exclusive interview to one of the television channels.   A figure of two million Australian dollars has been touted - and this could be a problem within the Indonesian law jurisdiction and would certainly draw interest from the Australian " Proceeds of Crime " people.   The negotiations are being managed by her ever present sister - Mercedes.

Schapelle must remain in Indonesia until her parole expires in 2017.  She must report monthly in person to the Indonesian police and she is required to be of good character.  Any breach could see her parole cancelled - and her remaining prison term served behind the walls of Kerobokan prison.

These  three years are fraught with danger.   Approval has been given for her to live with her sister and her Indonesian husband, but it is learned that they have separated.   The fact that Schapelle is now a high profile Australian celebrity may make her a target for Islamic extremists in Indonesia and the suggestion of a rich reward for a news interview will certainly make her a ransom possibility for the Asian underworld.  As a parolee - she enjoys no special protection from the Indonesian authorities.

It seems that the Schapelle story is far from finished.    She is now a public figure living openly in Indonesian society - and as such a certain attraction for the world's paparazzi.   Every attempt will be made to invade her privacy and the required monthly visit to a police station will be a media ordeal.  The mental strain will be enormous - and unremitting.

Perhaps the only solace is that all this media attention may help to pay the bills and the more the public laps up the continuing Schapelle story - the more the media moguls will be prepared to pay to keep ahead in the ratings war.    Her sister Mercedes has certainly emerged as the skilled  master of ceremonies to make that happen.

Schapelle is now thirty-six years old - and nearing the end of her child bearing years.   The very thought of her finding love will surely send the media into a new frenzy.   When her parole ends in 2017 she will probably return to Australia - but it is doubtful if she will be allowed to merge into obscurity.

The future life of Schapelle Corby seems destined to enthrall Australian - and probably world audiences - for years to come !