Corby's Sentence Cuts By Five Years

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has cut the sentence of Australian drugs convict Schapelle Leigh Corby by five years, minister/state secretary Sudi Silalahi confirmed here on Tuesday.

"The President has signed the decision," he said when asked to confirm about it at the presidential palace compound.

He said the decision letter has been sent to the District Court in Denpasar, Bali, to be submitted to Corby.

Sudi said the decision had been made through the existing process and procedures on clemency.

"We have also asked for consideration from the supreme court chief and also cabinet ministers concerned," he said.

Sudi said the Supreme Court in essence had advised to meet the request for clemency submitted by Corby by reducing her sentence.

Consideration had also been made with regard to Indonesian citizens involved in legal problems in Australia, he said.

Sudi confirmed there were two other foreigners that had also received sentence cuts but he declined to tell the identities of the persons concerned. He only said that one of them was a German national.

Corby was caught on October 8, 2004 attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of marijuana trying to smuggle at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport upon arrival from Australia aboard Australian Airlines AQ 7829.

The District Court in Denpasar later sentenced her to 20 years in jail in the middle of 2005. She has so far received remissions several times.(*/T007)