CONVICTED drug smuggler Schapelle Corby was last night too scared to get her hopes up after Indonesia's Justice and Human Rights Ministry recommended her jail sentence be slashed by 10 years - meaning she could be back in Australia within weeks.

UPDATE: Schapelle Corby to be paroled in August

Her family is now anxiously awaiting a decision by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will have the final day on whether Corby is released.



From her cell in Bali's Kerobokan prison, Corby was waiting for more information about the ministry's recommendation before getting her hopes up of being free.

Her sister Mercedes, who was visiting Schapelle when the news broke, said that if Dr Yudhoyono did agree to cut 10 years from Corby's sentence, she would be eligible to go home immediately.

In depth - The Schapelle Corby Files

Pictures of Schapelle Corby through her years in prison

"She will have done eight years in October, plus she's had two years reduced in good behaviour, so that's 10 years," she said.

"So if another 10 years is cut, she should be pretty much eligible for release immediately."

Mercedes said, if released, her sister planned to head straight back to Australia to live with her mother Rosleigh in Queensland.

Corby was jailed for 20 years in 2004 for attempting to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali in a body board bag.

The announcement of the major breakthrough in the former Gold Coast beautician's drug saga came as a "pleasant shock" to Corby and her family yesterday when The Daily Telegraph broke the news of the ministry's recommendation to them.

Mercedes was at the prison having a small birthday celebration with Schapelle for their younger sister Mele, who had just turned 22.

"Oh wow, have they recommended clemency? I hope this is true. I better make some calls," she said.

A few hours later Mercedes said the family was "too nervous" to get their hopes up and would await the president's ruling before they celebrated.

Corby first launched her bid for clemency two years ago, appealing for an early release on the grounds she was suffering from mental illness which could endanger her life.

"She's on anti-psychotics to keep her stable, but she goes up and down," Mercedes said.

A Justice Ministry official yesterday revealed the recommendation to slash Corby's sentence was based on humanitarian grounds: "Our office agreed with her clemency. We recommended granting it."

Corby's lawyer Iskander Nawing described it as a "huge development" and a breakthrough.

The recommendation also includes an approval for clemency from the director-general of prisons.

Dr Yudhoyono's decision will be based on the recommendation from the Justice Ministry, as well as advice from the Attorney-General's Department, Foreign Ministry and National Narcotics Board.

Originally published as Schapelle is too scared to hope