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Schapelle Corby released from Indonesian prison

BALI, Indonesia, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Schapelle Corby, an Australian woman convicted of smuggling drugs into Indonesia, was freed Monday after nine years in prison, her sister said.

Corby, 36, who was granted parole, had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2005.

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Authorities who arrested her in 2004 said she had 9 pounds of marijuana in a bag at Bali's Denpasar International Airport.

Corby and her family maintained her innocence, saying airport employees set her up.

The government said it wasn't showing any special treatment to Corby by releasing her after nine years, Antara reported.

"I do not want to speak specifically about Schapelle. What I want to say is that this conditional parole is not a policy, not a generosity of the government. It is a law that is regulated and enacted by the government," Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin said.

Under the conditions of Corby's parole, she must reside in Bali until 2007. She is expected to live with her sister, Mercedes, but upon her release Monday she was staying at a five-star luxury resort in Bali, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

"We've been waiting for almost 10 years for this moment and it's very emotional for Schapelle and our family," a statement from Corby's family read.

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