Corby parole minister under pressure

Indonesian Justice Minister Amir Syamsuddin is expected to announce on Friday afternoon whether drug smuggler Schapelle Corby will get parole.

The Indonesian minister considering Schapelle Corby's parole is under pressure to take a tough approach from eight MPs who say her release would be inconsistent and immoral.

Indonesian Justice Minister Amir Syamsuddin is expected to announce on Friday afternoon whether the convicted drug smuggler will get parole, after serving more than nine years behind bars in Bali.

In parliament on Thursday, he was petitioned by a group of eight MPs, who urged him not to be "soft" on the Australian.

In a statement, the eight conveyed "regret and objection" to leniency for Corby, because it went against the spirit of combating drugs.

"We regret the government inconsistency in combating drug trafficking where the political policy does not support the law enforcement and the BNN (National Narcotics Board) to implement zero tolerance to drugs," they said.

The group called on Mr Syamsuddin to "stop being soft" and deliver the government's promise to be serious on drug crimes.

In response, Mr Syamsuddin reminded MPs that Indonesia was a lawful country, with obligations to treat all people lawfully.

"Even though moral commitment is needed and important, certainly we need to hold on to the law ... Parole is one instrument that has been clearly regulated in law," he said.

"With that, it's important to know and to convey here that everyone receiving rights that are regulated by those (laws), they are given not because of the generosity of a minister, the generosity of a president, or anyone's generosity.

"They are given because they comply with the requirements."

The minister has repeatedly stressed there would be no special treatment for Corby, 36.

The group of MPs had also lashed out against the "moral commitment" of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who in 2012 slashed Corby's sentence by five years.

They said his statement that crimes involving drugs, terrorism and corruption were the most serious crimes was "far from the reality" of his actions.

The group was Taslim Chaniago, Eva Sundari, Iksan Sulistyo, Otong Abdurachman, Deddy Misah, Haji Kudi Mukti, Almuzzamil Yusuf, Andi Asad.


2 min read

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Updated

Source: AAP


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