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Indonesian authorities question Corbys on Sunday Night story

Indonesian authorities consider whether to return Schapelle Corby to prison after a Sunday Night appearance and family interview.

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2014-03-02_2320_001Seven’s Sunday Night story on Schapelle Corby has ignited enough concern with Indonesian authorities to question her over whether it was a breach of her parole conditions.

While Corby appeared in footage, an interview by Mike Willesee was conducted with her sister, Mercedes Corby.

Fairfax reports Schapelle Corby and her family spent nearly two hours on Monday explaining their TV appearance to officials at the Bali Justice Office.

It comes as political pressure in Jakarta pushes for her to be returned return to prison.

Sunar Agus, the head of the corrections division at the justice office, said Schapelle had been “uncommunicative” throughout the meeting in his office while sister Mercedes and brother-in-law Wayan Widyartha explained their actions.

Denny Indrayana, Deputy for the Indonesian Justice Minister said that, while the issue needed more study, Corby may have been “sneaking around the law” in the program.

“They sought permission to do the interview and we said no. Now, if they are doing it through the sister, we’ll have to see if that actually breaches her parole conditions,” he said.

Nasir Jamil a member of Komisi III, parliament’s justice and human rights committee, said, “The community can see how the family has tried to sneak around the law. We want the government to be stern and confirm what is actually the criteria of causing restlessness. This is a country based on the rule of law, so we need to be strict and stern.”

Authorities will consider whether Corby was paid for it, and whether the family had disregarded the clear instructions of the Indonesian government not to do an interview.

News Corp reports Schapelle has moved from the Sentosa Seminyak villas where Seven was paying for a team of private security guards.

Corby’s parole condition includes not creating unrest, which can be deliberately open to interpretation by authorities.

Sunday Night attracted 1.09m viewers, far less than had been hoped for the high profile story.

13 Responses

  1. If Schapelle goes back to prison It will all be Channel 7’s fault and they should hang their heads in shame (not that they would)

    The media should just bloody well leave her alone and let her readjust to life outside.

    I do agree that Mercedes should have known better but maybe Channel 7 made her feel obligated in some way to do the interview.
    I’m sure they would have convinced her that there would be no consequences for Schapelle if she did.

  5. Channel 7 and her sister seem to have rocks in their heads. Channel 7 should never have approached them. Its the usual thing, the high and mighty going after the ratings, whether they pay them or not. They should be well aware that some countries don’t see the ‘fair way’ about things like we do. It seems they don’t care about Schappells welfare or consequences. Trying to ‘dupe’ the autorities will not go down well even if Schappell had nothing to do with the interview. They will likely send her back and so the drama will continue.

  6. Based on the fact that they deliberately went against the order by following the money for an interview, she should he going back. I say that objectively need purely on the advice given.

  7. Indonesia would be looking for the tiniest reason to put Schapelle away. I guess 7 wanted to hear from someone and the indonesian gov may htink mercedes is speaking for Schapelle. What mercedes said wasnt to bad.

    Its a shame more people didnt watch sunday night. Not for the corbys but the story by Cullen with the farmers and there farms and dealing with the drought.

  9. Seven and the family have a lot to answer for…if she goes back to prison…Mercedes should know better….she has lived in the country long enough….the parole was touch and go as it was…foolish people.

  10. The family were told not to do an interview. They did the interview. Whatever comes of it rests on the fact that they’re attention seeking media-whores.
    When you’ve just been released after 9 months in prison you would think you’d just want to lay low and enjoy the freedom – foolish.

  11. What a pity the Indonesian authorities don’t have the same values when it comes to Abu Bakar Bashir, the person who incited the Bali bombings. Surely he has created far more restlessness in the community than Schapelle. This is just a storm in a tea cup I think. Mercedes said nothing that would risk Schapelle’s parole.

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