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The remaining members of the Bali Nine have returned to Australia on Sunday after serving more than 19 years in an Indonesian jail.
The Australian Government confirmed that Australians, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj are back in Australia.
An Indonesia minister told media outlets that the five flew on Jetstar on Sunday from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport to Darwin with no media coverage.
The minister also said their repatriation was the result of a deal signed with Australian Minister of Home Affairs Tony Burke on December 12.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the Indonesian Government, saying they deeply appreciated the decision to return them.
“The Australian Government has consistently advocated for the men and provided consular support to them and their families,” he said.
“These Australians served more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home.
“The men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia,” he said.
Albanese called on the media to respect their privacy.
The five were among nine Australian smugglers arrested in Bali in 2005 as they tried to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin strapped to their bodies to Australia.
Of the other members, ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died in 2018 from stomach cancer and Renae Lawrence was released in 2018.
Albanese also expressed his gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
“I have conveyed my personal appreciation to President Prabowo for his act of compassion,” he said.
“The five men have been returned to Australia under an arrangement agreed between our two countries.”
Albanese says the men committed serious offenses and that Australia shares Indonesia’s concern about illegal drugs.
“The government will continue to co-operate with Indonesia to counter narcotics trafficking and transnational crime,” he says.
