Australia offers Jakarta vow for drug smuggler

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said Australia had written to the governor of Kerobokan jail, where Corby has been imprisoned on marijuana smuggling offences since 2005.

“We've advised Indonesian authorities the Australian government supports the granting of parole to Ms. Corby,” Carr said.

“This letter of guarantee, backed by strict reporting requirements, is necessary in order for the parole application to proceed.”

Carr said Corby would be required to report regularly to Australian consular officials on the holiday island of Bali and keep them updated on her whereabouts. Corby's sister, Mercedes, lives in Bali.

Indonesian officials would retain her passport and any other travel documents.

Gusti Ngurah Wiratna, chief of Kerobokan prison, confirmed that the letter — “a form of guarantee by the Australian government that Corby will adhere to all prison regulations” — had been received a few days ago.

“The letter is not an intervention by Australian government to hasten the parole process,” he told AFP.

Wiratna said Corby's lawyers had yet to apply for parole.

“Once I receive their application, I will form a special team comprising of seven prison officials to evaluate if Corby deserves a parole or not,” he said.

“The government will then make a decision based on the team's evaluation.”

Carr said the government's guarantees would not mean Corby was automatically offered parole, but it was an important step forward in her bid for release.

“Ms Corby was convicted and sentenced in accordance with Indonesian law,” said Carr.

“However, most Australians would agree she has served a substantial term in jail and deserves the chance to plead her case before parole authorities.”

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