Schapelle 'could be home by Christmas'

[WantDaChronic]

SCHAPELLE Corby's chances of returning to Australia to serve out the rest of her 20-year sentence have been dramatically boosted following confidential negotiations between the Rudd Government and Indonesia.

 

Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus has held high-level talks in Jakarta aimed at finalising a prisoner transfer treaty with Indonesia that could see Corby return home within a year.

 

Mr Debus met Indonesia's Attorney-General and Foreign Minister a week ago to hammer out details of the proposed treaty, which has languished over the past 18 months after negotiations stalled on several crucial details.

 

A signed treaty would allow Corby and at least three members of the Bali Nine to serve out the remainder of their sentences in Australian jails, close to family and in conditions far more comfortable than those in Bali's Kerobokan prison.

 

"The Government is committed to securing a workable and effective prisoner transfer agreement with Indonesia," Mr Debus told The Daily Telegraph.

 

"I raised the matter at the highest levels with the Attorney-General and the Foreign Minister. The talks were constructive and our two countries are making progress towards resolving some of the ongoing concerns."

 

Corby, arrested in 2004 at Bali's Denpasar airport after 4.2kg of marijuana was found in her bodyboard bag, was jailed for 20 years but has always maintained she was innocent.

 

She was denied an expected reduction in her sentence at Christmas because she had been found in possession of a mobile phone several months earlier.

 

Six weeks ago her father died in Queensland after a long battle with cancer. In the past some members of her family have suggested she would prefer to remain in Kerobokan prison rather than return to Australia.

 

But friends have since dismissed these claims, saying Corby would welcome any chance to be close to her Gold Coast family, possibly in a women's correctional centre near Brisbane.

 

Corby has described Kerobokan prison as a "disgusting slum" with no running water or power.

 

A plan last year to move her to another jail in Java hundreds of kilometres away was shelved when authorities declared that conditions at Kerobokan had improved.

 

It is believed Mr Debus is not the first cabinet minister to raise the possibility of signing off on a prisoner transfer deal since the Government's election victory in November.

 

A succession of government figures have visited Jakarta since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made it clear he wanted relations between Australia and Indonesia to improve.

 

Signing off on a new prisoner transfer treaty is seen as a crucial test in the new relationship.

 

But several sticking points with the Indonesian Government remain, including how to marry the Australian system of applying parole conditions with the Indonesian practice of handing out remissions for good behaviour.

 

While the new treaty is expected to be applied retrospectively, it will not provide any comfort for members of the Bali Nine heroin ring currently on death row.

 

Six of the nine face death by firing squad, including ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, along with drug mule Scott Rush.

 

Indonesia has asserted that death row prisoners be excluded from any prisoner transfer treaty because Australia does not practise capital punishment.

Source: www.news.com.au

[Stoney]

hmmmmm i wonder if she will be spotted in aust bars and restaurants enjoying a few drinks and some dinner soon then

 

 

cheerz

[mullray]

The fed government hasn't even got to brokering the deal and there's nothing to the story other than another media beat up. Any deal between Aus and Indo to exchange prisoners is probably years away and then there'll be the terms where inmates may have to serve out X = ? years. That's at least what the Rudd government are saying officially.

 

She should stay in Bali - looks like she's having a good time there.

[Indycar]

Luv the Shappelle yarn...

 

Brings out the hypocrite in a lot of stoners who believe's she deserves what she got.

 

Cannabis legalization needs to be addressed on a global scale 'n not just Australia alone. If the entire human race is to benefit..

 

[mullray]

Yes Indycar - how was that bitch that fronted on TV showing pictures of Shappelle and Mercedes having dinner together in Bali while she was supposed to be locked up. Looked like a right Dyke and likely someone who themselves has smoked mj. It made me sick - lagging bitch making life for Shappelle even harder. Bali prisons are fairly decent places and the Balinese are very compassionate spiritual people. The Javanese - well they are just plain corrupt (great if you have a few dollars for bribes). If I was Shappelle I'd want to serve my time in a Bali jail, pay a bit of money from time to time and get days out, food brought in, a nice room full of my things and Balinese inmates to serve my time with.