Bali prosecutors seek review of Corby's 20-year sentence

The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Taking no notice of some Australians' outrage over the conviction of Schapelle Leigh Corby, 27, prosecutors in the drug case have filed an appeal, demanding that the 27-year-old be imprisoned for life.

The Denpasar District Court sentenced Corby earlier this month to 20 years' imprisonment after finding her guilty of smuggling 4.2 kilograms of marijuana into the country. Her lawyers have appealed to the provincial high court for her release, saying she is not guilty.

Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu said Corby should have received a harsher sentence.

"Basically, we're not satisfied with the verdict. The convict deserves a life sentence," Wiswantanu was quoted by Antara as saying on Monday.

According to him, the appeal was filed to accommodate the opinion that the punishment was too light for someone who smuggled 4.2 kilograms of marijuana into the country.

The prosecutors emphasized in their appeal the harmful implications of the transnational smuggling of drugs and other illicit materials, and of the widespread use of drugs among the nation's youth.

Meanwhile, Corby's attorneys led by lawyer Erwin Siregar are now searching for new evidence to help release their client or have her sentence reduced.

The lawyers said they filed the appeal just one week after the district court handed down its verdict. But a high court clerk, Anak Agung Sagung Ratnadi, said his office had so far not received Corby's appeal from the district court.

In the wake of widespread resentment in Australia over the verdict, the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra received mysterious packages twice within a week, forcing its closure for fear that the packages contained a harmful substance. Australian authorities later declared the packages harmless.

Some people believe Corby was the victim of an international drug syndicate. They have threatened to boycott Bali as a holiday destination and demanded the return of tsunami aid for Indonesian victims.