Text your say: Corby’s sentence cut

I am rather amazed at the number of people who say they are horrified or disturbed at the possibility of Schapelle Corby getting an early release from her excessive 20-year sentence for trying to smuggle 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Bali seven years ago.   

I haven’t been to Bali lately, however, before moving to Indonesia 21 years ago I visited Bali almost every year for some 10 years. There has never been any shortage of drugs in Bali, then or now.  A 20-year sentence is ridiculously high when compared with other sentences.

I recall a six-month sentence to a man for bashing another man to death simply because his religion was slightly different. Two to three years ago, two soldiers were arrested in Cilandak for having 198 kilograms of marijuana in a box truck.

They said that it was 200 kilograms when they left Aceh but they had to give two kilograms to the police at Lampung before they could get on the ferry.  I have never seen any publicity of them being sentenced or even charged.

Ken Day
Jakarta

It is not wise to for President Yudhoyono to grant the appeal. It will encourage other criminals to do the same crime.

Chandra Yusuf Kurniawan
Jepara, Central Java

Drug trafficking is an extraordinary crime that can not only destroy the lives of people, but also the future of the nation.

I think what Australian Schapelle Corby did to smuggle drugs into the country was a powerful, extraordinary crime. Therefore, it was not wise to cut her sentence by five years.

Five years are a great gift for a convicted drug smuggler. I don’t know if there are any other motives behind the sentence cut?

Bambang Utomo
Jakarta

If the granting of Schapelle Corby’s appeal to have her prison term cut by five years, after she realizes the damage she has cause d to society, consequently deciding to cooperate with the authorities concerned so that similar offenses can be prevented, then a partial pardon will not be in vain though silly as it may sound.

On the other hand, this will certainly create a precedent for similar cases in the future. Come what may, the President has the right to decide.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta

Australia must pay a high price to her freedom. It will make the bilateral relationship between both countries better.

Maria Sumarno

Granting Corby a five year cut to her sentence can be viewed as politically correct.

However, since many Indonesians are being jailed for the same case and are not being granted their appeals, there has to be an honest explanation as to how the government could grant Corby a cut and for what purpose. By doing so, Indonesians will not be confused about the justice they too deserve.

John Berkhmans