I’m Torn About Schapelle

May 28, 2012 in Human Rights, News

Unless you’ve been living in a cave devoid of any access to the outside world, I’m sure you would have heard that Schapelle Corby has been granted clemency by the Indonesian Government. The ABC reported:

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has thanked Indonesia’s president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for granting clemency to convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby.

Corby will be free much sooner than expected after the Indonesian president approved a five-year cut to her sentence.

A letter from Mr Yudhoyono has been delivered to Denpasar court confirming that Corby has had five years taken from her sentence but Corby has yet to see the letter because it must first be sent to the local prosecutor.

Combined with maximum time off for good behaviour, Corby would be released in mid-2015, but she could be released earlier based on the recommendation of justice department officials.

Since this announcement, it feels like many people, Australian and Indonesian, are very torn about this news. Many welcome the news, saying that Corby has served enough time. Some are shocked as it’s the first time clemency has been granted to a narcotics criminal in Indonesia. Chief Justice of Indonesia’s Constitutional Court has said drug crimes are worse than terrorism and he does not back the President’s decision to grant clemency. And there are others who think that while the sentencing may be harsh, it is the law in Indonesia and should be abided by.

I’m on the fence, in a major way. Since news broke of Schapelle’s situation back in 2004 (if you don’t know what the situation is that I’m referring to, you can read all about it here, yes I know it’s Wikipedia, but it’s got everything all in one place) I have constantly switched between thinking she’s guilty and innocent. Sometimes I’m convinced she’s guilty because how on earth could you “not feel” an extra 4kgs of weight in a body board bag and why would you be taking one to Bali when your sister owns a surf shop there? On the flip side, not once since being arrested seven and a half years ago has Schapelle stopped maintaining her innocence. There were also a few flaws in the case against her (like the body board bag never being tested for fingerprints).

I feel, regardless of whether she was guilty or innocent, she has served enough time in decidedly horrible conditions. But having said that, sentencing against drug crimes in Indonesia has always been harsh and who am I to say that another country should lessen their laws to suit me and what I think? She broke the laws of another country while she was in it, and therefore the consequences are fair enough. I’m torn, but I think we can all agree on one thing: Schapelle’s case divides all of us.

Schapelle’s new release date is 20 September 2017, but she is eligible to apply for parole this week though there are lots of conditions surrounding it.

What do you think? Are you glad she was granted clemency? Do you think her sentence was too harsh or do you think ‘do the crime do the time’?

Picture

Author Info

Monique Fischle has written 98 posts.
22 year old communications assistant with a love of books, movies, music, ASOS and all things celebrity! I blog over at ‘the musings of monique’ and tweet quite frequently @moniquefischle.
Follow on twitter: @moniquefischle

7 Comments »

← Email Is Dead

Cartoons From the 80s are the Best Kind →

Whippersnapper

Yes, poor Schapelle has been in dire circumstances for a long time.

She was also found guilty. They exhausted their appeals. It is Bali, not Australia. As my pal, JH said – if a foreigner was charged here and their government tried to intervene, we would be up in arms. Lex fori – the law of the forum. I’d like to see the stats on how many (non Australian) convicted drug smugglers in Indonesia have had the same appeal process as her and had their sentences reduced like Schapelle has.
- Monique Fischle
  
  Agreed. Like I said, I keep switching because while I think she’s served enough time, she was convicted of a crime in Indonesia and unfortunately, you have to abide by their laws. A narcotics criminal in Indonesia has NEVER had clemency granted (article linked above) and understandably, the Indonesians are not very happy.
  
  I feel bad for her (if she is actually innocent) but I do tend to lean towards “do the crime, do the time” and just because the laws are harsher in Indonesia than they are here, she committed the crime over there and unfortunately has to deal with the consequences.
  
  The one thing I wish came out of this is that people would stop trying to smuggle drugs, but only a few months later, the Bali 9 happened. When will people learn?
  - Whippersnapper
    
    One thing I will say though is that it is EXTREMELY alarming that customs in Australia didn’t pick up on the drugs before she left the country if indeed she was smuggling the drugs over there.
    
    This was and still is a post 9-11 world. My bags were checked several times when travelling recently for carrying SAUCES and nail polish (I’m pretty sure it was the offending baggage items), I just can’t see how customs didn’t search and sieze it before she even left the country.
    - Monique Fischle
      
      That’s where part of my “maybe she’s innocent” logic comes from, it makes no sense that it wouldn’t have been picked up in Australia. There’s the theory that she was an unknowing drug mule (is that how you spell it in this instance?) and it was only supposed to be between Brisbane and Sydney. But it’s one of those things, I don’t think we’ll ever know the truth in this case.
Rose Russo

I don’t know if Schapelle did the crime or not but the 60 minutes interview last night with Liz Hayes made me believe (yet again) that she is innocent.

If anything it’s a stern warning to all tourists travelling to Bali. No one in their right mind would make a decision like that again!!
- Monique Fischle
  
  There’s always a new report or story that emerges that shifts my opinion.
  
  I wish what you said was true, but the Bali 9 drug chain happened AFTER the whole Schapelle thing.
Melc_1911

Regardless of her innocence or guilt, I for one think she has served enough time. She has suffered enough. I get that it’s Indonesian law etc etc, but the compassionate side if me feels for her, and I hope she gets out soon. Hopefully she can regain her mental health and have some return to a normal productive life. A hard life lesson for a young girl if she is guilty and an absolute tragedy if age is innocent

KiKi & Tea