A prison source told The Weekly that Australia’s most famous drug smuggler wed her boyfriend, Indonesian national and former Kerobokan inmate, Ben Panangian in a private ceremony inside the jail, presided over by a marriage celebrant, at which only Mercedes Corby and a close friend of the groom were present.
In a candid photo of a woman believed to be Schapelle obtained exclusively for The Weekly and taken in Kerobokan Prison in July last year, a gold band can clearly be seen on her wedding finger.
Ben Panangian, Schapelle’s rumoured “husband”.
Ben Panangian, Schapelle’s rumoured “husband”.
Ben Panangian, Schapelle’s rumoured “husband”.
Schapelle took pains to keep her ring finger hidden from the media yesterday.
Schapelle took pains to keep her ring finger hidden from the media yesterday.
Schapelle took pains to keep her ring finger hidden from the media yesterday.
However other inmates who shared Cell Block W with Schapelle in the notorious Bali prison said they had no knowledge of their fellow inmate being married.
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The 36-year old former Gold Coast beautician spent her first night of freedom last night holed up in an exclusive five-star resort in Seminyak, where she had been whisked by the Channel 7 TV program that has reportedly paid her $2 million for her first interview.
The news of Schapelle’s secret wedding came on the same day unconfirmed reports out of Bali suggested sister Mercedes had split from her own Indonesian husband, Wayan Widyartha.
Schapelle met Ben behind bars in 2006 when he was serving time for drug offences.
The Corby family were unable to be reached for comment yesterday, having been tied up in an exclusive deal with the Seven Network’s Sunday Night program and its veteran broadcaster, Mike Willesee.
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