TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Justice and Human Rights Denny Indrayana said he had yet to see the documents related to parole of Australian drug convict Schapelle Leigh Corby. Denny said the grant of Corby’s parole was based on legal considerations. “It’s not related to any other issue. Just legal matters,” Denny said yesterday at his office.

Denny denied allegations the parole granted to the owner of 4.2 kilograms of marijuana resulted from a negotiation between the Indonesian and Australian governments. Rumor has it the Indonesian government approves the parole as substitute for the extradition of graft convict in the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI), Adrian Kiky, by the Australian Supreme Court.

Denny said it was impossible for Australia and Indonesia to meddle with each other’s legal affairs. “Do you think we can steer the Australian Supreme Court? It’s impossible. Just like they can’t tell me or the minister to grant Corby the parole,” he said.

The Supreme Court has sentenced Corby to 20 years in jail, but until 2013, the sentence has been reduced by 39 months.

Ayub Suratman, the director of information and communication of the Ministry’s Penitentiary Directorate General, said in August that Corby would walk free in May 2017. In compliance with the regulations on paroles, a convict must serve two thirds of the prison term prior to being released. Corby, who is now detained at the Kerobokan Prison in Bali, will likely be released in 2016.

 NUR ALFIYAH | PUTU HERY | MAYA NAWANGWULAN | ALI AKHMAD