Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Schapelle Leight Corby and Renae Lawrance, both Australians, serving a 20-year jail sentence at the Denpasar penitentiary in Kerobokan, Badung regency, were granted a remission on the occasion of Christmas.

"The remission for the two inmates serving their sentence for a narcotic case had already been received two days ago. Each of them receives a sentence reduction of one and a half months," head of the Denpasar jail Siwanto said on Thursday.

The presentation of the Christmas remission to 11 inmates involved in narcotic cases at the Kerobokan penintentiary was attended by guests, including foreign consular officials and church representatives who had been serving the inmates.

Siswanto said the Christmas remission was granted under Government Regulation No 28 of 2006 of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

Although the requests for the remission had also been made by some other Christian prisoners, the requests of the 11 foreign inmates had been approved only very recently.

The granting of the remission was witnessed by Renae Lawrence, member of the narcotic smuggling group "Bali Nine", and Corby and the other Christian prisoners.

They were present among the Australian prisoners involved in the narcotic smuggling group "Bali Nine". It was also attended by some other Christian prisoners like Myuran Sukumaran, Andrew Chan, Matthew James Norman, and Eric Martin.

The Christmas celebration and granting the remission were also filled with entertaining artistic performances like drama and religious songs.

Siswanto said that Corby looked happy after receiving the remission, but refused to join the celebrations.

Corby also looked happy when some of her friends came to see her at the jail.(*)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011