Indo Court recommends Schapelle sentence cut

I agree with this statement.

I read now that Corby has to be examined by a "government doctor" before they can determine that she is ill enough to be eligible for clemency. I can't remember where I read it. I need to find it.

Yeah, please find that, Oceangazer.


Sunny, does the Indonesian Constitution require that the President determine these matters within a prescribed time?

The head of Keroboken said that, it was just his opinion i think,,he was not impressed with Dr Phillips coming over for a visit and we need an official goverment doctor to check her out was the gist of it of what he reckons,,

We have gone well past that stage, the clemency papers are in and we are just awaiting a verdict from the President,,

Here 'tis:

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/corby...0-1225906340377

AUSTRALIAN drug traffickers Schapelle Corby and Renae Lawrence have both received five-month sentence cuts as part of Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations.

The head of Bali's Kerobokan Prison, Siswanto, said today the Australian prisoners received the remissions for good behaviour.

"Renae and Corby got five months' remission. I just got the letter from the justice ministry this morning," Mr Siswanto said.

"They received their remission because they have been behaving well so far."

Both Corby and Lawrence are serving 20-year sentences, but Corby has now received 17 months' remission in total, while Lawrence has had 23 months and 15 days shaved off her sentence.

When asked about Corby's chances of receiving clemency, Mr Siswanto said it was still under consideration.

"The clemency is still under process. I haven't had the confirmation," he said.

"Clemency would only be given to convicted who are permanently sick, geriatric and children. That would be the priority for clemency."

Supreme court officials last month confirmed a judge had considered Corby's plea for presidential clemency and written a recommendation on her case to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Corby's family renewed its fight to have the convicted drug smuggler returned to Australia last year after a psychiatrist warned she would not survive her sentence if she remained in Kerobokan Prison.

Associate Professor Jonathan Phillips, the former president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, visited Corby in prison last August and said she was "hanging on by a thread".

However, Mr Siswanto said today that Corby must be examined by an official government doctor.

"The doctor who examined the convicted must be an official government doctor, not outside doctor who just came to visit," he said.

Corby did not attend the Independence Day ceremony at the prison today, but Lawrence did - and was part of the choir.

Indonesia traditionally cuts jail terms on independence day and some religious holidays for well-behaved prisoners who have served at least six months, and are not sentenced to life in prison or death.

Corby, 33, was sentenced to 20 years' jail after she was caught at Bali's airport in October 2004 with 4.1kg of marijuana in her boogie board bag.

Lawrence was sentenced to 20 years' jail for her role in the failed Bali Nine plot to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia in 2005.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/corby...7#ixzz0x1R9eHGk

What should have happened, and what was proposed as the best course of action when dealing with such complexities, is that Dr. Phillips should have gone to Indonesia and with a member of DFAT and Corby's lawyer and Dr. Thong, sat down with all parties concerned (Dr. in charge of hospital where she was admitted and treated, Dr. working at prison in charge of reporting to commander, prison commander himself and a representative from the Indon govt) and have an open dialogue as to resolving the issue amicably to suit all parties. It's called a diplomatic intervention and I am surprised that it was not given the due consideration it deserved, particularly when it was known that a meeting was being arranged with the then PM Rudd to discuss this very same course of action. The delivery and outcome could have achieved far more than just a New Idea exclusive. Sadly shows the lack of experience in planning and running a campaign.


Footnote: Generally the decision to grant a pardon is issued not later than 3 (three) months since the recommendation of the Supreme Court is received by the President. Then usually the prisoner is notified within 14 days after the decision has been issued.

But as we know, there are always delays and these timeframes are only guidelines.

I think the Supreme court handed the reccomendation to the President last month sometime ?

So we have another couple months or so i guess,,

Depends on a lot of variables and not just the applicable law with respect to the time frame.

The president could move on the application sooner. There are a lot of domestic political issues confronting the Indonesian president; border disputes with Malaysia and the rather quick way previously incarcerated corruption felons are finding their way out prison gates.

The president really does not need to add to his own political woes by placing Schapelle Corby front and centre. The president could always go directly to prison authorities and get a run down on Ms. Corby's health problems, if he wanted to, before making a decision.