Schapelle Corby security costs for deportation from Bali to Brisbane

Schapelle Corby security costs for deportation from Bali to Brisbane



BUSINESS class flights, flashy cars, accommodation in a luxury hotel, a world class security team and a celebrity bodyguard.

Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby’s VIP treatment on her much-hyped return home after spending nine years in Indonesia’s Kerobokan Prison and three years on parole has been nothing short of extraordinary.

In many ways, Corby’s return has emulated a Royal visit with a last minute flight swap, a secret underground exit from Brisbane airport, a motorcade of nine black Mercedes Benz vans and a series of decoys.

A security expert, who spoke to news.com.au on the condition of anonymity, has estimated Corby’s elaborate security operation would have cost more than $40,000.

He said the risk assessment would have cost about $15,000-$25,000 and used to develop an operation plan at a further $7000-$15,000.

“So (that’s) about up to $40,000 before the assignment commences,” he said.



The security operation has been meticulously executed by Tora Solutions, a security and investigative company owned by John Mcleod.

Mr Mcleod has also acted as Corby’s bodyguard, escorting her from Bali to Brisbane. He is understood to still be working for her as she continues to evade the spotlight. News.com.au has contacted Mr Mcleod for comment.

Another security expert who spoke to news.com.au, but didn’t want to be named, said the cost of hiring a bodyguard to travel overseas — known in the industry as ‘close protection members’ — would be in the range of $1100-$1800 per day, not including expenses.

“Bodyguards or close protection personnel in Sydney or Brisbane would vary from $50 to $180 per hour ... depending on their skill level,” he said.



The past few days have proven that Mr Mcleod’s “skill level” is clearly advanced.

His team, including ex-military officer Eleanor Whitman, devised and executed a plan that flawlessly outplayed the hordes of journalists and camera crews following Corby from Bali to Brisbane.

Corby and her sister Mercedes were booked in business class seats on both Virgin and Malindo Air flights from Denpasar to Brisbane in an apparent bid to evade the media.

Business class flights on Virgin from Denpasar to Brisbane can cost more than $1500, while for Malindo Air they can be around $650. It remains unclear who paid for the business class seats.

Other expenses likely to have been incurred as part of the security operation include vehicle hire, equipment, accommodation and travel “allocated normally at cost”, according to the expert.



After touching down in Brisbane on Sunday morning, Corby was flanked by security and escorted from the airport by a motorcade that split up in different directions to throw off the press.

Decoy convoys led journalists on wild goose chases through the city while television helicopters followed, ending in dead ends — one a KFC carpark at Ormeau at 7am, the other at the Sofitel in Brisbane.



Corby is understood to be holed up in the five star luxury hotel, since her heavily-guarded arrival home, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

She still hasn’t been sighted in public since returning to Australia despite the best efforts of a huge media contingent attempting to report on her homecoming.



WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM?

There has been widespread speculation that a television network might have covered the security costs in exchange for an interview with Corby.

But Australia’s major commercial networks including Seven, Nine and Ten have all denied any involvement.

Network Seven head of news Craig McPherson told news.com.au the company “has not paid a cent” to Corby or assisted in funding her security in any way. He also denied the network has secured an interview, paid or unpaid, with her.

“We aren’t and haven’t been dealing with Corby,” Mr McPherson said.

“We’ve offered no help whatsoever.”

Channel Nine communications director Victoria Buchan told news.com.au the network “spoke to the family prior to Schapelle returning”.

“We ... offered her an interview with us but that we would not pay,” Ms Buchan said.

“Nothing has changed.”

Corby’s mother Rosleigh Rose today told reporters she was unaware of any interview deals with her daughter.

“That’s her business and I think the answer would be no. Youse have told it a thousand times,” she said of Corby’s story.



Melbourne lawyer Christian Juebner, who specialises in proceeds of crime laws, told news.com.au it was legal for Corby to accept money for an interview about her ordeal as a convicted drug trafficker.

But she would “run the risk” of having any money she is paid retrieved by the Commonwealth.

“There’s a misunderstanding where people think there’s a prohibition of paying money to her,” Mr Juebner said.

“It’s not illegal for her to receive something. But if someone is reasonably suspected to have received a benefit from exploiting their notoriety arising from an offence, the AFP Commissioner can seek an order cauy