Corby pinning hopes on unlikely parole

23 May 2012, 5:31 pm   -   Source: AAP
Corby, who was arrested in 2004 attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of cannabis into Bali in a bodyboard bag, has already served eight years. (AAP)

Corby, who was arrested in 2004 attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of cannabis into Bali in a bodyboard bag, has already served eight years. (AAP)

A senior prison official says drug smuggler Schapelle Corby is likely to remain behind bars in Bali until at least August 2015.

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A senior prison official has confirmed convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will remain behind bars in Bali's Kerobokan jail until at least August 2015, with a parole highly unlikely.

As her sister, Mercedes Corby, emerged from the jail on Wednesday, telling a throng of media that Corby was thrilled by the news of her five-year sentence reduction, the senior official also confirmed that if parole were to be granted, the 34-year-old could walk free later this year.

The prison official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a calculation completed on Wednesday morning had put the total remissions Corby had received so far on her 20-year sentence at 23 months and 15 days, meaning her current sentence would expire in September 2017.

He said Corby, who has already served eight years, could also have her sentence cut further, by a maximum of eight months a year, which would see her sentence expire as early as August 2015.

The only way for her to walk out of Kerobokan any sooner was if she were to be granted parole, which is very rare for foreigners, but which could see her released this year. Under Indonesian law, parole can be granted after prisoners have served two-thirds of their sentence.

However, Corby's clemency application, lodged in March 2010, was made on the grounds that she was suffering from a mental illness that could endanger her life.

Her family has confirmed she is being treated with anti-depressant and anti-psychotic drugs.

Corby has already cleared a number of significant hurdles in winning clemency and a five-year sentence cut from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

She has never admitted guilt, which had previously been seen as a major impediment to her chances of winning an early release, while the president has in the past been firmly against showing leniency towards drug traffickers.

Mercedes Corby said her sister was happy after being told of the clemency, but that the family remained cautious about the prospects of parole.

"We now hope to get more information on possible clemency, possible parole for Schapelle. We hope that we'll have positive news on that aspect. I don't know about the parole."

The former beautician from the Gold Coast, busted in 2004 attempting to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali in a bodyboard bag, has been behind bars at the overcrowded Kerobokan jail for eight years.

Her mother, Rosleigh Rose, said she was overwhelmed by the possibility of an early release for her daughter.

"I think it hasn't sunk in yet. I can't believe it," Ms Rose said.

"Schapelle will be coming home."

While there was joy in Australia, the announcement was heavily criticised in Indonesia.

Professor Hikmahanto Juwana, an international law expert at the University of Indonesia, said it appeared the president was bowing to external pressure.

"The government should show the public that they are strong and not bowing to pressure from the Australian government," he said.

Indonesian Justice and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin, who advised the president to cut Corby's sentence, made it clear the Australian government was expected to reciprocate the leniency shown by Jakarta.

"It's expected that the Indonesian government's move will get a positive response so that our citizens will also get leniency and be returned to their families," Mr Syamsuddin said.

The comments came after Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr on Wednesday denied any deal had been done, despite the sentence cut for Corby coming just a week after three Indonesian juveniles were set free from a West Australian prison.

"The decision about minors in Australian jails was made because of the merits of the case," Senator Carr said.

Mr Syamsuddin also warned that the decision to grant Corby an early release should not be seen as a positive sign for members of the Bali Nine, who are also applying for clemency.

"Corby wasn't involved in smuggling heroin or other more serious drugs. It was marijuana and it wasn't a very large amount," he said.

The Bali Nine's Andrew Chan lodged his clemency application earlier this month, while Myuran Sukumaran is expected to follow suit later this year.

Both men, the so-called ringleaders of the 2005 plot to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin from Bali to Australia, are on death row and need clemency from Dr Yudhoyono if they are to avoid the firing squad.

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