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Schapelle Corbys early release plea rejected

Schapelle Corby was recently granted some hope for early release following a new regulation passed by the Indonesian Government. However, her plea for early release was dealt a blow after the National Narcotics Agency rejected the request.

Under the new regulation, a foreigner serving prison time would not be required a stay permit, and in the explanation of that, “prison time” includes specific leave, and parole. Corby was previously granted a five-year decrease on her sentence last May by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Benny Mamoto, an official for the National Narcotics Agency, declared that the convicted Australian drug smuggler should most definitely not be given parole. Mamoto had written to the Indonesian Minster for Justice and Human Rights to assert this.

If Corby were to be given parole, she would still be required to live in Indonesia until 2017, which is when her drug smuggling sentence would finish. A guarantee was given to Indonesia by the Australian government that if Corby were released on parole, she would not breach its conditions.

Schapelle Corby has been given some hope by the Indonesian President for a chance of parole after a new regulation was signed on April 16th. The regulation is said to pave the way for Corby’s lawyers to lodge a parole application against her cannabis smuggling conviction.

Corby has maintained her innocence since she was convicted in 2004 of smuggling 4.2kg of marijuana into Bali, and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Australia has continued to support Corby’s parole application, guaranteeing her good behavior if she is let free and living in Bali.