Schapelle Corby denies she’s engaged to her longtime boyfriend Ben Panangian

Schapelle Corby denies she’s engaged to her longtime boyfriend Ben Panangian after showing off a diamond on her wedding finger calling it a ‘commitment’ ring

Schapelle Corby has denied she’s engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Ben Panangian, after sharing a photo of herself with a diamond ring on her wedding finger.

In an interview with 9Honey on Friday, the 42-year-old convicted drug trafficker denied the conspicuous ring signified an engagement.

‘No, not engaged. No pressure to him. It’s commitment,’ she told the website on Friday. 

Rumours: Schapelle Corby (pictured) has denied she’s engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Ben Panangian, after sharing a photo of herself with a diamond ring on her wedding finger 

Schapelle debuted the sparkler on Instagram just a day earlier on Thursday, sharing two photos of herself wearing the ring while sunbathing at a Gold Coast beach.

While she did not confirm Ben had proposed, she hinted the ring had been a gift from him by tagging him in one of her posts.

She wore the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand, which is traditionally where engagement and wedding bands are worn.

Bling ring: Schapelle debuted the sparkler on Instagram just a day earlier on Thursday, sharing two photos of herself wearing the ring while sunbathing at a Gold Coast beach

Bling ring: Schapelle debuted the sparkler on Instagram just a day earlier on Thursday, sharing two photos of herself wearing the ring while sunbathing at a Gold Coast beach 

One of her followers noticed the accessory and commented, ‘That’s a beautiful ring you’re wearing’, alongside an engagement ring emoji.

Tellingly, Schapelle replied: ‘I think so too.’ 

Schapelle and Ben first met at a church service in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison in 2006 while both serving sentences for drug-related crimes. 

Put a ring on it: One of her followers noticed the accessory and commented, 'That's a beautiful ring you're wearing', alongside an engagement ring emoji

Put a ring on it: One of her followers noticed the accessory and commented, ‘That’s a beautiful ring you’re wearing’, alongside an engagement ring emoji 

She has previously described Ben, a former surfer who runs a stand-up paddleboard rental business in Bali, as her ‘soulmate’.

In March, Schapelle told Woman’s Day that the couple were ‘trying for a baby’.

At the time, she claimed they were ‘hoping to become pregnant’ while on holiday in Thailand in April.

Locked up: Schapelle and boyfriend Ben first met at a church service in Bali's Kerobokan Prison in 2006 while both serving sentences for drug-related crimes

Locked up: Schapelle and boyfriend Ben Panangian (left) first met at a church service in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison in 2006 while both serving sentences for drug-related crimes 

They only spend ‘two precious weeks a year together’ because Ben is unable to enter Australia due to his criminal record. 

Schapelle can return to Indonesia if she chooses, but does not feel ‘comfortable’ doing so yet, so she and Ben meet in countries where visas are not required.

Schapelle, who hails from Tugun, Queensland, became a household name after she was arrested in October 2004 at Bali Airport with 4.1kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag.

Long distance love: They only spend 'two precious weeks a year together' because Ben is unable to enter Australia due to his criminal record

Long distance love: They only spend ‘two precious weeks a year together’ because Ben is unable to enter Australia due to his criminal record

She was later sentenced to 20 years in prison, but after a series of sentence reductions was released on parole in February 2014 after nine years behind bars.

In May 2017, she was deported back to Australia amid a media frenzy.

Schapelle has always maintained her innocence, insisting the drugs were planted in her luggage by an unknown third party without her knowledge.  

Behind bars: Schapelle became a household name after she was arrested in October 2004 at Bali Airport with 4.1kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag

Behind bars: Schapelle became a household name after she was arrested in October 2004 at Bali Airport with 4.1kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk