Drug convicts get remission

Despite huge protests from law experts, drug queen Schapelle Leigh Corby and other drug convicts at Kerobokan prison, as well as two “sex predators” at Singaraja prison in north Bali, received remissions for Independence Day on Aug. 17.

Corby, Renae Lawrence (Australian), Peter Achim Franz Grabmann (German), Garcia Jean Marc Patrice (French), Lem Tian Soon (Malaysian), Gary Martin Turner (British), Mohammad Umar Rangasway (Indian) and Ryoun Seong-sik (South Korean) were among the 276 inmates at Kerobokan prison who obtained remissions.

Meanwhile in Singaraja prison in Buleleng regency, two foreigners charged with pedophilia also received five-month remissions. The two men, identified as Grand Field Philip Robert (Australian) and Martial Jean Jouglet (French), were imprisoned for six and seven years respectively for sexual assault against children in Buleleng villages.

Kerobokan prison warden, I Gusti Ngurah Winata, said that the 276 inmates had received two types of remission — Independence Day remission and Idul Fitri remission for Muslim inmates. General remissions were received by 187 convicts, while 89 inmates received special remissions.

“Previously, we proposed remission for 381 inmates for Independence Day and 196 inmates for Idul Fitri,” Winata said.

Winata added that remissions given to inmates involved in crimes related to drugs, terrorism, trans-national crime, human rights violations and corruption were regulated under Decree No. 28, issued in 2006.

“We have not yet received the letter of confirmation from the Law and Human Rights Ministry for the provision of this type of remission,” he added.

“All decisions must be made through the ministry and we are now waiting for them,” he added.

Corby, who received a six-month remission after receiving presidential clemency cutting her imprisonment from 20 to 15 years, failed to appear at the Independence Day celebrations at Kerobokan.

Meanwhile, Bali Nine convicts Myuran Sukumaran and Renae Lawrence were seen by the field.

Alen Steve, 28, who had been imprisoned for one and half years, finally got his freedom after receiving his remission. Steve said he was happy to see his family and this was the first time he had obtained a remission.

Kerobokan prison houses 907 inmates, including 56 foreign nationals from 16 countries. Around 488 prisoners are involved in various drug-related cases.

Meanwhile, in Singaraja, prison warden Y. Hartono said that Robert was among 65 prisoners who received remissions. He had stayed in several places in Indonesia before landing on the island of Bali, where he was found guilty of being sexually involved with several children under ten years of age.

In a recent interview with Bali Daily, Robert said he had not realized that Indonesian law prohibited him from having sex with minors.