SYDNEY: Australia’s authorities stated on Sunday (Dec 15) that 5 members of the “Bali 9” drug ring have returned from Indonesia, after diplomatic efforts between the countries this month to strike a repatriation deal.
“The Australian Authorities can affirm that Australian residents, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj have returned to Australia,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated in an announcement.
The boys had been amongst 9 individuals arrested in 2005 attempting to smuggle greater than 8kg of heroin out of the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
“These Australians served greater than 19 years in jail in Indonesia. It was time for them to return residence,” Albanese stated.
Two of the ringleaders of the Bali 9 group, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, had been executed in 2015, prompting Australia to recall its ambassador in protest.
The one girl within the group was launched from jail in 2018, and a male member died of most cancers the identical yr.
“We want to convey our deep appreciation to the federal government of Indonesia for its cooperation to facilitate the boys’s return to Australia on humanitarian grounds,” Albanese stated.
It stated the boys’s return mirrored “the robust bilateral relationship and mutual respect between Indonesia and Australia”.
“The boys can have the chance to proceed their private rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.”
Indonesia’s Senior Minister for Authorized Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra this month met Australian Dwelling Affairs Minister Tony Burke in Jakarta and handed over a draft proposal for the return of the 5 prisoners.
The phrases of the draft included the 5 being banned from returning to Indonesia, laws on the authorized foundation for the switch and a requirement that Australia respect the choice of the Indonesian court docket, Yusril stated.
Yusril stated on the time that Indonesia would respect any choice taken by Australia when the prisoners returned residence, together with if the group was granted a pardon. He stated the repatriation wouldn’t contain an trade of prisoners.
Indonesia’s authorities didn’t reply instantly to requests for touch upon Sunday.