Pubdate: Sun, 29 May 2005
Source: Australian Associated Press (Australia Wire)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/schapelle+corby

LAW CHIEF WANTS LIFE TERM IMPOSED

Indonesia's Attorney-General says Schapelle Corby should be sentenced
to life in prison.

"The 20 years in jail handed down by the Denpasar District Court is
too light," Abdul Rahman Saleh told the Bali Post yesterday.

"She deserves to be sentenced to life."

Mr Saleh is supporting an appeal by prosecutors, who also say 20 years
in prison for Corby is not sufficient punishment for
drug-running.

Mr Saleh's comments came as the Australian Government lobbied
Indonesia to enter into a prisoner transfer treaty to get the
27-year-old Gold Coast woman out of Bali's Kerobokan jail so that she
can serve her sentence in Australia.

Mr Saleh said Australian officials had approached him about Corby's
case.

"But I explained that we could not intervene in a legal problem," he
said.

"They should know that Indonesia is a sovereign country. Australian
must respect that.

"One state cannot intervene in another state just like that."

The newspaper did not say when the Australian officials had talked
with Mr Saleh or what was discussed.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry last week cast doubts on calls by
Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison for a one-off prisoner
transfer deal to get Corby home. AdvertisementAdvertisement

Its spokesman, Marty Natalegawa, described the proposal as a "slippery
slope" because other cases could arise.

But he said Indonesia was open to the idea of a general inmate
transfer treaty, but this could take a long time to negotiate.
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