Gillard supports drug smuggler’s plea to Yudhoyono

In a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Merdeka State Palace on Tuesday, visiting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard voiced her government’s support for the clemency plea of convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby.

Gillard told a joint press conference following an hour and a half meeting with Yudhoyono that the Australian government would also support any clemency plea that might be filed by members of the Bali Nine heroine smuggling ring, three of whom are on death row.

Corby, sentenced to 20 years in prison for smuggling four kilograms of cannabis to Bali in 2004, earlier applied for clemency to Yudhoyono.

“I have, as the Australian Prime Minister, also spoken today to the President (SBY) about matters involving some Australians, most particularly of Miss Schapelle Corby, and indicated the Australian government’s support for her clemency plea,” Gillard told members of the Indonesian and Australian press.

Responding to the statement, Yudhoyono said although Indonesia’s regulations gave him right to grant clemency to local and foreign citizens, it required “proper consideration, especially when concerning serious crimes”.

“I respect the independence of Indonesia’s justice system. And in the case of Miss Corby, based on our system here, there have been actually some sentence reductions,” Yudhoyono said.

The Indonesian President proposed Indonesia and Australia develop an extradition partnership, including on mutual legal assistance and transfer of sentenced persons, to address similar issues in the future.