‘It’s hard for me to go outside’: Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby reveals her trauma six years after being released from prison in Bali – as she’s interrogated about her past on SAS Australia
Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has spoken about her lingering trauma more than six years after being released from prison in Bali.
She told The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Thursday that she still fears going outside and feels most comfortable in her bedroom, where she has security screens.
The 43-year-old opened up about her mental anguish while promoting her upcoming appearance on Channel Seven’s military-style reality show SAS Australia.
‘It’s hard for me to go outside’: On Thursday, convicted Bali drug smuggler Schapelle Corby talked about her super private life after jail on KIIS FM, and revealed how traumatic it was being interrogated about her past on SAS Australia
As part of the gruelling training program she and other celebrities had to endure, Schapelle was subjected to interrogation.
The SAS drill sergeants asked her questions about her drug conviction and why she still maintains her innocence after so many years, reducing her to tears.
Reflecting on her trauma, she said: ‘I stayed in my four small walls for quite a long time and I was just really feeling stuck. It’s hard for me to go outside. It’s called institutionalised. Just waiting, and I didn’t know what I was waiting for.’
She said she often feels safest at home and doesn’t like going outside.
Comfort zone: She said she often feels safe at home and doesn’t like going outside now
‘I do have a little bit of a fear of open spaces as well. I’m most comfortable in my studio or sitting in my bedroom with the doors closed, as I have my security screens on. This is really sad,’ she confessed.
Schapelle revealed that she wanted to do the show in order to challenge herself.
She also spoke about her SAS-style interrogation, saying she cried because she always gets emotional whenever anyone brings up her trial or incarceration.
Traumatic: Schapelle said that she wanted to do the show to challenge herself. She also spoke about the trailer for the series, where she’s reduced to tears while being interrogated about her drug smuggling past, saying she ‘cries’ reliving it all
Making headlines: In 2004, she became a household name when the then 27-year-old beauty student was arrested at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport with 4.2kg of marijuana inside her boogie board bag, a crime she still denies committing. In May 2005, the world watched on as she broke down in the courtroom while being sentenced to 20 years prison
‘I cry, every time I hear the court scenario or whatever, I just cry. It’s so deep in my heart and I cry every time I hear it,’ she said.
Schapelle added that while the show is ‘intense’ both mentally and physically, the experience ‘helped make her stronger’.
In 2004, the then-27-year-old beauty student became a household name when she was arrested at Bali airport with 4.2kg of marijuana inside her boogie board bag – a crime she still denies committing.
In May 2005, the world watched as she broke down in the Denpasar courtroom while being sentenced to 20 years’ prison.
After a series of sentence reductions, Schapelle was released from Kerobokan Prison on parole in February 2014, after nine years behind bars.
She lived in Bali with family until she was deported back to Australia in May 2017.
SAS Australia premieres on October 19 at 7:30pm on Channel Seven
Coming soon: SAS Australia is set to premiere on October 19 at 7:30pm on Channel Seven