No Corby deal with Indonesia, says Carr

23 May 2012, 10:38 am   -   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)

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says there was no deal between Canberra and Jakarta for the early release of Schapelle Corby.

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Foreign Minister Bob Carr has rejected reports Australia negotiated a deal with Indonesia for the early release of convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.

An Indonesian government minister reportedly says Corby's 20-year sentence had been cut by five years as part of a deal which includes the release of Indonesians charged with people smuggling in Australia.

But Senator Carr says no deal was struck.

"The decision about minors in Australian jails was made because of the merits of the case," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

"That was raised with us and it was a very strong case, by Indonesian government people, most recently when the foreign minister of Indonesia met me in March."

But the two issues are not linked, Senator Carr says.

Senator Carr was unable to confirm reports that Corby could be released by the end of this year because of good behaviour.

"Any argument about parole would be something for Ms Corby's legal representatives to lodge," he said, adding an earlier release would depend on remissions.

"The Australian government has consistently supported Ms Corby's application for clemency on humanitarian grounds."

Indonesia's minister for the state secretariat, Sudi Silalahi, said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono cut Corby's prison term on humanitarian grounds.

He described the decision as part of a reciprocal arrangement with Australia, which had already returned some young Indonesians accused of crewing asylum seeker boats.

"It's not just a promise. Many have been followed through and they've already returned," he told ABC Radio.

Senator Carr said Indonesian minors would have been released from Australian jails even in the absence of the Corby case.

"It is plainly indecent to have in Australian adult jails kids from Indonesia who have been picked up on fishing boats, being misused for people smuggling," he told reporters in Sydney.

"The Human Rights Commission has said that it's wrong, we think it's wrong and the Indonesians have raised it with us."

Senator Carr said releasing Indonesian minors from Australian jails may have raised "the level of goodwill" between the two nations.

"If that's created a level of goodwill in Indonesia that has helped make this decision possible, then that's fine."

The Corby case was a timely reminder to young Australians to abide by the laws of the countries they visit, the foreign minister said.

Corby was due for release in 2022 after receiving almost two years in remissions of her sentence for good behaviour.

The Indonesian government on Tuesday granted Corby a cut of five years in response to a request for clemency.

Under Indonesian law, she would be eligible for parole after having served two-thirds of her sentence, meaning that the five-year cut to her prison term could see her released later this year.

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