Corby refused transfer to low-security Bali prison

Convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has been refused permission to move to a low-security prison in Bali.

Corby returned to Bali’s Kerobokan Prison this week after a two-week respite in hospital, where she was treated for severe depression.

Kerobokan Prison head of security Maliki, who goes by one name, today confirmed a request was made for Corby’s transfer about three weeks ago - but rejected.

“Corby - as a prisoner serving a 20 year sentence - it is not possible for her to be moved to a detention centre,” he said.

“The Justice Office did not allow Corby to be moved to detention centre in Bangli.

“According to the regulations, Bangli is only for people serving sentences of less than two years.

“People convicted and jailed for more than two years cannot be in that detention centre.”

Corby, who turned 31 this week, will continue her treatment in prison as an outpatient, doctors said.

Her return to prison occurred just days after a doctor warned she had suffered a total relapse after being spotted by reporters venturing from her ward to go shopping and undergo a beauty treatment.

The former Queensland beauty student is serving 20 years in Kerobokan Prison after she was caught at Bali’s airport in October 2004 with 4.1kg of marijuana in her boogie board bag.

Prior to her hospitalisation, prison officers said she had been unable to sleep or eat in prison since learning that her final appeal had failed.

Corby’s final legal appeal failed in March when Indonesia’s Supreme Court upheld her 20-year sentence.

Corby’s lawyer Erwin Siregar said he was yet to receive a response to the request from the Justice Office.

“We won’t believe (it’s been rejected) until we receive the letter from the Justice Office,” he said.

“I think the Justice Office will make a wise decision, we really hope that they will consider the proximity (of the detention centre) to the Australian consulate and her family.

“The request was made, not only by Corby and her lawyer, but also from the Australian Consulate, because the place, it’s very good for Corby to heal from her depression.

“If there is no communication, she will be back to zero which would be unfortunate for her.”

A year ago Indonesian authorities cancelled Corby’s transfer to a women’s prison in Malang, Java, hundreds of kilometres away, citing a lack of government funding.

JAKARTA
AAP