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Deane-Johns could be heading for Australian prison
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Convicted Australian heroin trafficker Holly Deane-Johns may be moved from her Thai prison to a Perth jail within months.
Deane-Johns, 36, is serving a 31-year sentence in Bang-Khen women's correctional centre after being jailed in 2003 for possessing heroin and attempting to smuggle the drug.
WA Corrective Services Minister Margaret Quirk said she had agreed to a federal government proposal for Deane-Johns' repatriation - which could see her serving out a term at Perth's Bandyup women's prison.
"Her health condition is sufficiently serious that we believe her health would be compromised were she to continue to be in a Thai prison," Ms Quirk told reporters.
"She will serve five years in prison in WA, which means that (her) total term of imprisonment ... will be over 12 years.
"She will then be subject to a further five years' parole supervision.
"I think that's long enough for anyone to reflect on what they have done - and a deterrent to anyone who is minded to go to overseas countries and commit serious drug offences."
The minister said the federal government would now put the proposal to the Thai government, as part of a process that usually takes a few months.
"I am confident that they will agree," she said.
Deane-Johns would be the second prisoner repatriated under a prisoner transfer agreement with Thailand.
Ms Quirk rejected a transfer request for Deane-Johns last year, saying WA prisons were not a dating service for heroin dealers.
She said at the time Deane-Johns only wanted to be closer to her boyfriend, fellow drug trafficker Stephen Wallace, who is serving 15 years in Casuarina Prison for offences relating to the importation of heroin.
Ms Quirk said the original application had been deficient in information and had not convinced her that Deane-Johns had support systems for her rehabilitation.
"I am now confident that she has the support systems around her."
Ms Quirk said the state would foot the about $10,000 bill for her repatriation.
Deane-Johns' five-year term in WA would begin once she arrived back in Perth.
Ms Quirk said she had agreed to the proposal on the condition that Deane-Johns served five years in an Australian prison, not three and a half years as proposed by the federal government.
If not repatriated, Deane-Johns could stay in her Thai jail until 2031, unless she were granted a royal pardon from the Thai King.
She can apply for a royal pardon in 2010.
A bilateral agreement with Thailand in place since September 2002 allows transfers of sentenced prisoners between the two countries.
© 2007 AAP
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