Convicted Australian drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury will likely be released from a Colombian prison as the nation combats the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, Nine News reports.
The outlet reports that Sainsbury, who in 2017 was sentenced to six years in prison for trafficking cocaine, appears to be one of roughly 4,000 prisoners marked for release into home detention in the coming days.
Citing “high level parole meetings” in the Colombian capital of Bogota, Nine News reporter Seb Costello this morning said “we understand that she will walk free” from the facility.
But if Sainsbury is released, it’s unclear if she will serve the remainder of her sentence in the South American nation, or if she will be permitted to travel to Australia to carry out her home detention at home.
In a video press conference, Colombian Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said on Wednesday that the plan is release high-risk prisoners into home detention is to stem the transmission of COVID-19 behind bars.
Reuters reports that two inmates in crowded Colombian detention facilities have died of the virus, while at least sixteen other prisoners and staff members have tested positive.
#BREAKING: Convicted drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury will reportedly be released from a Colombian prison in the next few days. @SebCostello9 #9News pic.twitter.com/ehIDRkduto
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) April 16, 2020
