Four of the Bali Nine might have their life sentences reduced, if the government in Jakarta follows the recommendation of Indonesia’s corrections department.

The four are Martin Stephens, Matthew Norman, Si Yi Chen, and Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen.  They’re serving sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole for drug trafficking.  But last month, they applied for the sentence reduction.  And prison authorities in Bali are in favor of those applications.

But the final decision is up to the Minister for Law and Human Rights who will have to balance the request against anti-drug campaigners who want the government to continue its hard line.

If they get what they want, the four will see their life sentences reduced to 20 years in prison.  Minus 8 years for the time they’ve already served, and they could be out 12 years from now, or even sooner if they get more time off for good behavior.

Back in 2005, the Bali Nine were convicted of trying to traffic 8.3 kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia.  Two were sentenced to death and are still trying to get clemency.