After 19 years in Indonesia’s prison system, the five remaining members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling ring have returned to Australia.
Australian citizens Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj were repatriated on Sunday after the federal government struck a deal with Indonesian authorities.
Indonesia’s government said the five were transferred from Bali with the status of prisoner on Sunday morning and landed in Darwin.
Jakarta said it had not granted pardons.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his “compassion” in facilitating the men’s return to Australia.
“These Australians served more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
“They will now have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration here in Australia.”
The repatriated Australians were among nine arrested in 2005 after trying to smuggle heroin and had been behind bars serving life sentences in Bali.
Albanese said their return “on humanitarian grounds” reflected Australia’s strong bilateral relationship with Indonesia.
“Australia respects Indonesia’s sovereignty and legal processes and we appreciate Indonesia’s compassionate consideration of this matter,” he said.
The repatriated Australians were among nine arrested in 2005 after trying to smuggle heroin and had been serving life sentences in Bali.
Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia, while Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.
Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were executed by firing squad in Indonesia in 2015. Credit: aap
Indonesia’s senior minister for legal affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the transfer was “reciprocal in nature”.
“If one day our government requests the transfer of Indonesian prisoners in Australia, the Australian government is also obliged to consider it,” he said.
The five are banned for life from entering Indonesia, Yusril said in a statement.
Indonesia has said it would respect any decision by Australia when the prisoners returned home, including whether to grant pardons.
With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
