Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jan 2014
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  http://www.smh.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/441
Author: Michael Bachelard, Indonesia correspondent for Fairfax Media

SCHAPELLE CORBY APPROACHES FINAL HURDLES FOR PAROLE BID, AWAITS 
INDONESIA'S POLITICAL APPROVAL

Schapelle Corby approaches final hurdles for parole bid, awaits
Indonesia's political approval by Michael Bachelard, Indonesia
correspondent for Fairfax Media

Schapelle Corby has cleared two of the bureaucratic hurdles standing
between her and her parole bid, and has only two more to go before she
can be released from Kerobokan prison.

A spokesman for the Indonesian Corrections department, Ayub Suratman,
has confirmed that the Australian government has issued the convicted
drug smuggler a new passport at the request of the country's
immigration department.

The immigration department has also confirmed in writing that Corby,
who has served nine years in jail, was legally able to stay in
Indonesia to serve out her sentence.

She has now fulfilled all the immigration requirements of a foreign
prisoner serving parole -- including a guarantee from the Australian
embassy that she will behave well.

The two remaining hurdles are sign-off from a meeting of staff of the
corrections department to confirm that all the paperwork is in order;
then political approval from Justice Minister Amir Syamsuddin.

Mr Syamsuddin told Fairfax Media in October: "The record of Schapelle 
Corby is good, and if a good person serves her sentence well, we 
automatically have to give her rights".

Mr Ayub said the corrections meeting would take place soon -- though
he did not know when -- and as long as there were no problems with her
application, should be over within a day and the file sent to the minister.

If the Australian diplomatic spat with Indonesia over spying and
asylum seekers is to affect Corby's application, it is likely happen
in the office of the justice minister.

Mr Amir acknowledged last year that granting parole to such a high
profile Australian prisoner -- known in the Indonesian press as the
Ganja Queen -- could be politically difficult in an election year.
However, he has stated more than once that this is a legal decision,
not a political one, and that he would grant parole if she fulfilled
requirements.

Once she is out of jail, Corby must spend the rest of her sentence
under the care of her sister, Mercedes, and brother in law, surf-shop
owner Wayan Widyartha, who live in Kuta, Bali. She has agreed she will
work designing bikinis at Mr Widyartha's shop.

Corby was found guilty of smuggling 4.2kg of marijuana into Indonesia
in 2004 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. After a two-month
sentence cut for good behaviour at Christmas, she will be eligible to
return to Australia on July 25, 2017. 
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