- Schapelle Corby eligible for day release
- Still waiting to see if she'll be granted parole
- Schapelle won't be released until 2015: official
SHAPELLE Corby hopes of being home in time for August have been dashed after the Indonesian corrections department said she would not even be eligible to apply for parole until September.
Corby will be given an official release date when the head of Bali's Kerobokan jail meets with the convicted drug smuggler tomorrow.
It is expected that her sentence is due to end in September 2017, after five years was slashed from her 20-year prison term by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The head of Kerobokan jail, Gusti Ngurah Wiratna, said he would deliver the confirmation to Corby in person tomorrow, adding that she was in good spirits after having learnt of the clemency decision.
Ms Corby will only be able to apply for parole after serving two-thirds of her sentence.
However, Director General of Corrections spokesman Akbar Hadi told Fairfax that Even with the clemency granted earlier this week she does not pass that point until September.
Meanwhile, Mr Wiranta said Corby was doing well.
"I will announce (the release date) after I've seen the clemency letter," he said.
A senior prison official has already calculated the release date, and based on the almost two years in remissions she has already received on top of the five-year cut, it means she has another five years to serve.
The sentence could be reduced further, and possibly end in 2015, if the 34-year-old is granted the maximum eight months in remissions over the next two to three years.
Corby may taste freedom even sooner if she is approved for an Indonesian prison program of "asimilasi", or assimilation, designed to allow well-behaved inmates to reintegrate with society.
Under the rules of the program, prisoners must have had their final legal status determined. Those convicted of drug offences must have served two-thirds of their final sentence.
If Corby receives the maximum remission of six months in August, she will qualify for the program this year.
The development comes as doubts continue as to whether she would be granted parole, which she could also qualify for by August if granted further sentence remissions.
Parole is very rarely granted to foreigners.
Corby would have continue to demonstrate good behaviour to qualify for "asimilasi".
Mr Wiratna confirmed that Corby would be eligible for the program.
"I think every convict, local or foreigners, have the rights to have it," he said.
"Her behaviour has been good."
The 34-year-old's lawyer, Iskander Nawing, said he was likely to apply for Corby to take part in the scheme.
"Probably we would go there, for assimilation and parole," he said.
"Certainly behaviour will be considered if she is to be allowed to do it, but I think there is no problem with that."
He said the fact Corby had already been given almost two years in remissions in the past showed she was a well-behaved prisoner.
Prisoners taking part in the program are allowed out during the day to work, but must return to the jail each afternoon.
The head of security for Kerobokan jail, Wayan Agus Miarda, confirmed Corby could qualify for the program.
"About the program, there's a team to assess her, which consists of our officers," he said.
Mr Agus said that from his assessment, Corby had been a model prisoner.
"I see her following the regulations in here, I don't see her doing anything bad.
"She mingles with other inmates and communicates with the prison officers.
"There's no bad report on Corby so far."
The former beautician from the Gold Coast was busted in 2004 attempting to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali in a bodyboard bag.
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