SYDNEY: Five members of the Australian drug-smuggling group known as the Bali Nine returned home on Sunday after spending 19 years in Indonesian prison. Their long incarceration had strained diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The nine Australians were arrested in 2005 while attempting to smuggle over eight kilograms of heroin from Bali. Indonesia’s harsh drug laws brought global attention to the case, which saw two of the group executed by firing squad, while the rest received lengthy prison sentences.
The Australian government confirmed that Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj had arrived in Australia. A statement expressed hopes for their rehabilitation and reintegration. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for showing compassion in the matter, emphasizing shared concerns about the global drug trade.
“These men spent nearly two decades in prison, and it was time for them to come home,” Albanese said. He also reiterated Australia’s commitment to collaborating with Indonesia on combating drug trafficking and transnational crime.
The prisoners left Indonesia under official arrangements, with responsibilities now handed over to Australia. They were flown from Bali to Darwin, accompanied by Australian embassy officials.
Negotiations for their repatriation gained momentum after a meeting between Albanese and Prabowo on the sidelines of the APEC summit last month. The Australian government, which had consistently advocated for the prisoners, asked for media respect for their privacy.
The men, now free in Australia, are not required to serve additional prison time but have pledged to continue their rehabilitation. Temporary accommodations were provided upon their return.
The Bali Nine case remains one of Indonesia’s most high-profile drug prosecutions. Despite widespread pleas for clemency, accused ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015. Another member, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died of cancer in 2018, while Renae Lawrence was released after her sentence was reduced.
Criticism was directed at Australian police for tipping off Indonesian authorities about the group’s plans, despite the risk of the death penalty. In November, Indonesian officials confirmed plans to repatriate prisoners from Australia, France, and the Philippines by the year’s end.
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