Polygamous sect girls `pregnant at 13`

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MERCEDES Corby, the sister of jailed drug runner Schapelle Corby, has been ordered to appear at a secret hearing to determine if she helped spirit away possible proceeds of crime.

Queensland Chief Justice Paul De Jersey has ordered Ms Corby to appear at an examination into the flow of money from her sister`s publishing deals.

The Australian Federal Police sought the urgent order after learning she had flown into Australia earlier this month from her home in Bali, where her sister is serving a 20-year sentence for marijuana smuggling.

The Supreme Court last year froze more than $280,000 in proceeds from Schapelle Corby`s tell-all book, My Story, and a women`s magazine interview with Mercedes, after the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions alleged the money was proceeds of crime.

Senior Australian publishing figures have already been secretly examined by federal lawyers over the book and magazine deals.

In an affidavit to the Supreme Court last week, AFP agent Michael Petty said he believed examining Mercedes Corby would provide information about Schapelle Corby and Mercedes` Indonesian husband, Wayan Widyartha, who are co-respondents in the DPP action to permanently confiscate the publishing profits.

Funds from the publishing deals were allegedly paid into Mr Widyatha`s Indonesian bank account.

Agent Petty said Mercedes Corby, who co-authored My Story with Sydney journalist Kathryn Bonella, appears to have been the "facilitator" of publishing deals.

"I believe that an examination of (Mercedes) may provide information about her, (Schapelle`s) and (Mr Widyartha`s) affairs," the officer said in an affidavit. "(Mercedes) is married to (Mr Widyartha) so she is likely to have knowledge of (his) affairs."

Mercedes Corby had flown into Australia from Indonesia on March 9 and was believed to be staying with her mother, Rosleigh Rose, at her Loganlea home south of Brisbane, Agent Petty said.

He asked the Supeme Court to order an urgent examination because Mercedes "may depart Australia at any time".

The Corbys` lawyer, Jason Jacobson, said yesterday he was not at liberty to say whether the examination had taken place.

Schapelle Corby has been in Bali`s Kerobokan Prison since being caught in 2004 smuggling 4.1kg of cannabis into Indonesia inside a bodyboard bag.

She is awaiting a decision on her last-ditch appeal from Indonesia`s Supreme Court.

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