The five remaining prisoners from the infamous Bali Nine group are set to be sent home to Australia from Indonesia next month.
Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj are all serving life sentences in squalid Balinese prisons.
In 2005, them and four other Australians were arrested by Indonesian authorities as they attempted to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from the holiday island.
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer in 2018, while Renae Lawrence was released in the same year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.
The masterminds of the drug plot, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad in 2015 on Nusa Kambangan or ‘Prison Island’.
On Friday, coordinating minister for legal affairs, human rights, immigration and corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra told The Weekend Australian Anthony Albanese had requested the prisoners be transferred to Australia.
‘The Indonesia President responded that they are currently reviewing and processing the matter, and it is expected to be carried out in December,’ he said.
He added Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had earlier requested that ‘Australian nationals convicted of drug offences and serving sentences in various prisons be transferred to Australia’.
Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush (pictured Rush in 2005) and Michael Czugaj are all serving life sentences in squalid Balinese prisons
Pictured top left to right is Bali Nine members Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence, and bottom row left to right Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephen and Andrew Chan
The Bali Nine arrest caused widespread controversy because the tip they were carrying drugs came from the Australian Federal Police, who could have allowed them to land in Australia where they wouldn’t have faced the death penalty.
Rush – whose death sentence was changed to a life sentence in 2011 – moved to Karangasem jail in Bali’s east in early 2014.
In December, 2019, Rush vowed to become an anti-drugs campaigner in an emotional letter pleading for his life sentence to be reduced.
‘I sincerely apologise to the government and citizens of Indonesia for the shameful impact my action caused to the country of Indonesia and its people,’ the letter read.
Bali Nine member Michael Czugaj is seen in 2006
The Queenslander said he would like to become an ‘anti-drugs ambassador’ to make a positive contribution to society.
The impassioned letter came after photos were leaked in 2014 which appeared to show Rush smoking crack cocaine in Kerobokan Prison.
Meanwhile, Lawrence, the only Bali Nine member to have been released back into society, said she had struggled to find normality.
She’d earlier pleaded for the remaining five prisoners to have their sentences reduced.
She said staying locked up was ‘like a death sentence’ for the remaining five.
‘We all did something stupid, we all regret it, but everybody deserves a second chance,’ Lawrence said in February, 2020.
‘If this doesn’t happen, they have got no hope, they’ll lose hope and the end will be devastating.’
Renae Lawrence is the only Bali Nine member to have been released back into society
