Post by Bundy on May 22, 2012 20:08:34 GMT 10
Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby set for early release
THE Indonesian government has confirmed that Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby has been granted a five-year cut to her sentence.
A spokesman for the presidential palace has confirmed that Corby had been given a significant cut and that a letter had been delivered to her at Kerobokan Jail in Bali.
"Yes, it has been signed,'' the spokesman said. "It's been approved and delivered to Kerobokan.''
The 34-year-old has already had two years cut from her 20-year sentence for good behaviour as part of remissions announced each year at Christmas and on Indonesia's Independence Day.
But it remains unclear when Corby would be eligible for release.
Her clemency application, lodged in March 2010, appealed for an early release on the grounds she was suffering from a mental illness that could endanger her life.
Corby was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 20 years' jail in Bali on 27 May 2005 by the Denpasar District Court.
On 14 October 2005, Bali's High Court reduced the sentence to 15 years. Both sides again appealed, this time to Indonesia's Supreme Court.
But in January 2006, the Indonesian Supreme Court overturned the five-year reduction and reinstated the original 20-year jail term handed down.
The court also ordered that crucial evidence - the bodyboard bag and drugs - be destroyed, which appeared to signal that the case was now closed.
No further legal manoeuvres on her part are possible; however, she has petitioned for clemency from Indonesia's President, on humanitarian grounds, on grounds of mental illness.
Corby has maintained from the time of her arrest that the drugs were planted in her boogie board bag and that she did not know about them.
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/schapelle-corby-set-for-early-release/story-e6frg6nf-1226363770566
After two previous cuts to her original sentence of 20 years, comes another allowance from the Indonesian Government of a further 5 years. She will be lucky to do 10!!
