SCHAPELLE Corby’s family members have gathered for a homecoming party, but the convicted drug smuggler’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Corby was on a Malindo flight from Bali, which landed in Brisbane shortly before its expected 5.40am AEST arrival time.

The 39-year-old and her sister Mercedes were escorted from the plane and into a waiting convoy comprising nine black vans, who then led a string of media on a wild-goose chase through southeast Queensland.

media_camera Schapelle Corby’s convoy leaves Brisbane International Airport. Picture: Nigel Hallett

media_camera A convoy of cars, one of which contains Schapelle Corby, heads south from Brisbane Airport. Picture: Channel Nine

The convoy, accompanied by a significant security presence, left the airport and headed south along Brisbane’s Gateway Motorway.

That’s when things took a Hollywood-style turn, with the convoy suddenly splitting into different directions.

One part headed to the up-market Sofitel hotel in Brisbane’s CBD, where it’s believed Corby was whisked from the basement to a suite.

media_camera Schapelle Corby's convoy stops at a service station. Picture: Channel Nine

media_camera Mercedes Corby, sister of Schapelle, arrives at her mother's Rosleigh Rose's residence in Loganlea, south of Brisbane, Picture: ABC

A second contingent continued south, stopping at a roadside service centre alongside a KFC, while a third carried on down the motorway.

Mercedes headed to her mother’s Loganlea home and arrived at 7.30am without her sister.

Family members and friends arrived at the residence throughout the day but Schapelle is yet to emerge.

EMOTIONAL AFTER LANDING AT HOME

Corby became emotional and stressed when it came time to disembark the flight, according to the flight crew.

Hostesses Christie and Wahidah said passengers were confused and frustrated when Corby and her entourage were escorted off the plane with a security detail before others.

media_camera The flight crew from Schapelle Corby's plane. Hostess Wahidah and pilot So Kisshor. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Christie told The Courier-Mail Corby had been trying to hide her face throughout the flight and even asked for the curtains to be pulled across first class and economy to avoid prying eyes of media and other passengers.

Although she was quiet and “did not talk to anyone” Christie said she was in good spirits for most of the flight seated next to her sister Mercedes.

JUST IN: #9News has obtained vision of Schapelle Corby boarding her Malindo Air flight to Brisbane. pic.twitter.com/MjmQHud27v — Nine News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) 27 May 2017

Schapelle Corby lookalike has just turned up at sister Mercedes Corby's Tugun home. Bizarre.#9News — Hayley Webb (@HayleyWebb_9) 27 May 2017

As part of a “switcheroo” where Corby changed from a Virgin Australia flight to the Malindo Air flight at the last minute, crew said they had no idea she would be on board.

The flight was delayed so Corby had time to board.

“We had no idea, we were aware she was a special passenger but we were thinking who is she?” Wahidah said.

media_camera Instagram photo of Schapelle Corby on board a Malindo flight to Brisbane after being deported from Bali. Picture: Instagram

Another air hostess who asked not to be named said Corby was very scared and emotional when it came to disembark.

“She kept to herself a lot,” she said.

“She asked me can you close the curtain? I said why? And she said so no one can see. She covered her face and was so scared.

“After 13 years away wow I’m not surprised.”

media_camera Schapelle Corby's first boarding pass for her flight back to Australia. Picture: Supplied

CORBY ‘KEPT HER HEAD DOWN’

Gabrielle Aimes, from Brisbane, was sitting behind Corby in business class on the flight back to Brisbane and said the convicted drug smuggler seemed “fine” during the trip.

“She kind of kept her head down a bit,” she said.

“Everyone had texted me before saying you’re on the same flight. She slept, chatting away. I mean she was just sitting right in front of me.”

media_camera Lynne Bellinger and Gabrielle Amies sat behind Schapelle Corby on her flight back to Australia. The women said Corby “kept her head down.” Picture: Annette Dew

Rowena Arias, from The Gap, was also on board the flight and said she was extremely surprised to see Corby.

“She had her head down and she was pretty covered up,” she said. “It looked like she was just ready to go.”

SCHAPELLE ‘RELIEVED AND HAPPY ’

Corby’s return home comes 12 years after she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, where she served almost 10 years before being on parole for a further three years.

A spokeswoman for Corby’s security team, Tora Solutions, fronted the cameras this morning on her behalf to say thank you to her supporters. “It is with ... relief that this morning we mark Schapelle Corby’s return to Australia,” she said.

media_camera Schapelle Corby and her sister Mercedes arrive at the airport in Denpasar before flying home to Australia. Picture: Supplied

“We would like to say thank you to Schapelle’s supporters for all the faith, love and support they have shown over the years.

“To all those in Australia and to all those in Bali who were there throughout this difficult journey, your support has not gone unnoticed. To each and everyone of you, you are appreciated.”

The spokeswoman said the priority for Corby would now be “healing and on moving forward”.

“In the spirit of humility and in the spirit of dignity, we ask all parties to show respect for the family’s privacy during this time,” she said.

LAST LAUGH IN MEDIA MASTERSTROKE

Earlier, Corby had the last laugh, switching her return flight home at the 11th hour.

While her Virgin Air boarding pass had been issued and she had provided it to authorities, at the last minute she told them she was on a Malindo Air flight to Brisbane instead

The Malindo flight left 10 minutes ahead of the Virgin flight and boarded at the next gate. Meanwhile more than 40 members of the Australian media were booked on the Virgin flight, hoping to accompany Corby home.

A post shared by Schapellecorby (@schapelle.corby) on May 27, 2017 at 2:22pm PDT

Corby had been set to fly in seat 1A of business class of Virgin. It is understood she flew in seat 1A on Malindo.

And Corby’s last minute flight change caused chaos at the boarding gates because the gates for Virgin and Malindo flights were swapped at the last minute.

media_camera Media contingent wait outside the residence of Rosleigh Rose, mother of Schapelle Corby in Loganlea. Picture: AP

Virgin had been due to leave from Gate 6A and Malindo from 6B but they were changed.

It is not known if this was to make it easier for Corby to board her return flight home.

As confused passengers lined up at the wrong gate dozens of airport officials were brought in to sort out the situation.

SCHAPELLE GETS BALI BAN

Corby has been banned from returning to Indonesia for six months.

As her flight home left Indonesia, Bali justice officials breathed a sigh of relief that the saga was finally over, denying she had been afforded any special treatment and deflected criticism about the large number of police involved.

They said it was the police, not them, who had decided to use armoured cars to escort Corby to the parole board and then the airport.

media_camera Schapelle Corby was issued an emergency passport, enabling her deportation from Bali. Picture: Supplied

They were also at pains that Corby had only told them at the last minute that she had swapped flights, as they faced questioning from local media about the ruse.

Ngurah rai Immigration chief, Ari Budijanto, denied it had caused problems, saying there was enough time for the change.

Surung Pasaribu, the head of Corrections, described Corby’s case as being “very difficult”.

“We hope there is not another Corby,” he said.

CHAOTIC SCENES IN BALI

The convicted drug smuggler has also given her new Instagram followers a glimpse into her life as a free woman, after she went through customs at Denpasar International Airport — the place where she was first arrested almost 13 years ago.

Corby posted a video to her new Instagram account which she filmed while she was leaving Bali.

Corby can be heard with Mercedes making short gasps, before Mercedes says: “Woah that’s a big one”, referring to a TV camera.

She then says: “If it shines through they can see you they can see you with their lights.”

A post shared by Schapellecorby (@schapelle.corby) on May 27, 2017 at 5:39am PDT

Corby was photographed with her sister Mercedes as onlookers took photos of the pair, who are preparing to board a flight back to Australia tonight.

SISTER LOVE: How Mercedes helped Schapelle through hell

For her journey home, she was travelling on a brand new emergency passport, issued on April 28 this year.

In addition to one of her first stamps being a Ngurah rai exit stamp, she will also be black-listed and banned from returning for at least six months.

SCHAPELLE’S LAST BALI PHOTO

Without the scarf which earlier covered her hair as she made her way to the Parole Office, the Gold Coast beauty school student clutched a “Where’s William Tyrrell” handbag, referencing the

three-year-old boy who disappeared from the New South Wales mid-north coast in 2014.

She looked a picture of health, wearing make-up and with her long dark hair sitting neatly on her shoulders.

THE ARREST: The customs officer who brought Schapelle Corby down

With just a hint of a smile, she was clearly relaxed despite the chaotic exit from her Kuta home with sister Mercedes and trip, with a police escort to the parole board.

media_camera Schapelle Corby at the Parole Board in Denpasar earlier. Picture: Supplied

She wore green pants, wedge sandals, her scarf around her shoulders and clutching her William Tyrrell handbag.

When she and Mercedes went through Customs, their luggage through the X-ray machine appeared to also have William Tyrrell stickers on them.

At the airport, Corby’s car was driven in through the loading dock area, the second of two options on the plan for today’s deportation. This option was used to avoid disruption to the travelling public.

Meanwhile two truckloads of police, on standby at the departures gate, then stood down from duty.

Corby and sister her Mercedes then entered an Immigration office within the airport for her deportation to be processed and her Brisbane-bound flight tickets home to be issued.

Corby was ushered into a room. She appeared calm, with the scarf still over her hair, Mercedes by her side.

media_camera Schapelle Corby is scanned at Denpasar Airport before she boards her flight to Australia. Picture: Supplied

SCHAPELLE BECOMES A FREE WOMAN

Corby was told she was free to go after signing in at the Parole Board one last time, in a high-level police operation.

Corby left her Kuta home amid dramatic and chaotic scenes, where she was bundled into a car.

Dozens of police and media and surrounded Corby as she was taken out the gate of her home in Kuta and shoved into a waiting black car with her sister Mercedes.

MORE: Schapelle Corby Instagrams her journey to freedom

media_camera Schapelle Corby leaves the Prosecutors office in Denpasar a free woman. Picture: Nathan Edwards

media_camera Schapelle Corby leaves the Prosecutors office with police and Mercedes behind her. Picture: Nathan Edwards

media_camera Schapelle Corby leaves the Prosecutors office in Denpasar. Picture: Nathan Edwards

media_camera Schapelle Corby leaves while still covering her face with sunnies and a scarf. Picture: Nathan Edwards

CORBY’S BIZARRE TYRRELL HANDBAG

Corby first emerged from her villa yesterday with a scarf around her head, dark sunglasses on her eyes and she was carrying a handbag with a picture of missing Australian boy William Tyrrell.

Tyrrell disappeared at the age of three from Kendall in 2014.

Bemused locals and dozens of Australian tourists barely caught a glimpse of Corby amid the crush of cameras as her car snaked its way out her laneway, surrounded by police running on foot.

As part of the convoy there were two trucks, five police cars plus the vehicle transporting Corby. It was the first time Corby had been seen in public in 10 days.

The journey from her home to the parole board took about 40 minutes aided by police stopping traffic at major intersection.

SCHAPELLE’S BAPTISM: Did she find God?

media_camera Schapelle Corby getting into the van to got the parole office. Picture: Channel Nine

media_camera Police securing Schapelle Corby (holding her handbag) in Kuta lane to go to the Parole Board with a picture of William Tyrrell on the bag. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Shortly before 6pm Bali time, parole officials emerged from the office to hold up the freedom letter, telling her that her 15-year drug trafficking sentence was at an end.

It was the moment Corby has dreamt of for the past 12 years and eight months — the day, shortly before her 40th birthday, that she would no longer be a prisoner.

STAR POWER: Celebrity lawyer who helped Schapelle for free

Large police entourage escort Corby to parole office Large police entourage escort Corby to parole office

media_camera Schapelle Corby's signed letter, confirming her release. Picture: Supplied

Corby entered the parole office, again shrouded by a scarf and spent about 40 minutes inside with officials, signing her paperwork and the all important freedom letter.

Car arrives to take Schapelle Corby to freedom pic.twitter.com/X5YuEJWLkk — Cindy Wockner (@CindyWockner) May 27, 2017

MAYHEM AS SCHAPELLE LEAVES

Earlier police had locked arms around the car to push back media as she left her home.

Corby’s brother Michael, wearing an old man mask, sat on the fence, taking photos of the scene.

Corby’s conviction and release from jail was chaotic and so was her release yesterday.

Before she left the home, Schapelle’s sister Mercedes told News Corporation; “Schapelle is holding up well”.

media_camera Police secure the car that take Schapelle Corby from the house to the Parole office in Denpasar, Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

media_camera Michael Corby wearing a mask photographs media just before Schapelle Corby leaves her home in Kuta. Picture Supplied

And, finding her voice for the first time, Corby broke her three-year public silence and created a brand new Instagram account. Her first post was a photograph of her two beloved dogs, Luna and May, with the comment: “Going to miss these two. My puppies #Luna & May”.

Within minutes of News Corp Australia revealing the Instagram account, Corby had thousands of followers.

media_camera Police secure the car that take Schapelle Corby from the house to the Parole office in Denpasar, Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

media_camera Schapelle Corby leaves her home in Bali before being deported. Picture: Channel Seven

And while Bali’s Governor Made Mangku Pastika and local parliament members instructed officials not to give Corby any special treatment, yesterday’s scenes showed it was the opposite.

More than 100 police were involved, four police cars lead and shadowed her convoy from home to the parole office to the airport, dramatic rehearsals were held earlier in the day.

media_camera Schapelle Corby leaves her home in Bali before being deported. Picture: Channel Seven

“Today Corby is free,” Surung Pasaribu, the Corrections chief at Bali’s Law and Human Rights Ministry announced with some enthusiasm shortly before the show started.

“Since midnight she was free, I think there is no problem.”

media_camera Police secure the car that took Schapelle Corby from the house to the Parole office in Denpasar, Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Corby en route to parole office Corby en route to parole office

On the issue of Corby’s new Instagram, Mr Pasaribu said it was no problem.

“I don’t think it is a problem, but I don’t follow Instagram and I don’t really understand this Instagram even on my proper mobile phone I don’t have it,” he said.

He said the overwhelming response by authorities for Corby was at the behest of the Australian Government in Bali.

Governor Pastika also said that her safety must be protected at all times during her departure from Bali.

media_camera Police arrive at the home of Schapelle Corby before her deportation. Picture: Channel Seven

Schapelle Corby in pictures media_camera 2004: Schapelle Corby being interviewed by police soon after her arrest in Bali. 1 of 28 media_camera 2004: Schapelle Corby’s infamous boogie board bag with drugs smuggled inside it. 2 of 28 media_camera March 2005: Schapelle Leigh Corby passing through anti-drug protester at Denpasar District Court in Bali while walking to the court room, Photo: Lukman S Bintoro 3 of 28 media_camera March 2005: Schapelle’s lawyer Lili tries to translate during the trial at Denpasar District Court in Bali. Photo: Lukman S Bintoro 4 of 28 nav_small_close Want to see more?( 24 more photos in collection )Continue to full gallery nav_small_left nav_small_right

SCHAPELLE JOINS INSTAGRAM

Schapelle Corby has created her own public Instagram account — which has more than 82,000 followers.

In one of her posts, she took a selfie with her sister as she approached the airport, she wrote: “Almost at the airport with my @mercedescorby.”

media_camera Selfie of Schapelle Corby and her sister Mercedes in the car on the way to the airport before being deported. Picture: Instagram

As she approached the parole office, she wrote: “Good bye to this parole paper work. Approaching parole office for the last time.”

media_camera Schapelle Corby’s third post from her new account. Picture: Instagram

She also thanked her “Bali family” before she left Indonesia.

media_camera Second Instagram post from Schapelle Corby's Instagram account. Picture: Instagram

Her first post, as she remained holed up in her Kuta home counting down the final hours to freedom, was a photo of her two beloved dogs, Luna and May.

Schapelle wrote: “Going to miss these two. My puppies #Luna & May”.

media_camera Instagram page set up by Schapelle Corby today before her release. Picture: Instagram/Schapelle Corby



