Australia received five convicted members of the Bali Nine from Bali on Sunday morning, December 15, 2024. This move follows a request from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for the convicts to be repatriated before Christmas.
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra previously stated that President Prabowo Subianto had requested that the five Bali Nine death row inmates be transferred to Australia before Christmas 2024.
The five convicts are Scott Anthony Rush, Matthew James Norman, Si Yi Chen, Michael William Czugaj, and Martin Eric Stephens. Indonesian authorities handed them over to the Australian government at the VIP Room II of the Swarawati Building at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.
“The remaining five inmates of the Bali Nine case were transferred from Bali on Sunday morning and have landed in Darwin, Australia,” said I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, Deputy Coordinator for Immigration and Corrections of the Coordinating Ministry for Kumham Imipas, as reported by Antara.
The signing of a practical arrangement between Indonesia and Australia regarding the transfer of the five convicts took place virtually on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Yusril Ihza Mahendra represented Indonesia, while Minister of Home Affairs, Tony Burke represented Australia.
Details of the Transfer
According to a written statement from I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, the five inmates departed from Bali on Sunday morning at 10:35 a.m. and landed in Darwin, Australia at 2:42 p.m. (Darwin time) or 1:12 p.m. (Bali time).
The handover took place at the VIP II Swarawati Building at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, with Indonesian government representatives including Dir Binapi Ditjen Pas, Dir Pamintel Ditjen Pas, Dir TPI Ditjenim, Head of Kanimsus Ngurah Rai, Bali’s Head of Pas, and Kalapas Kelas IIA Kerobokan Bali.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra emphasised that the five inmates did not receive a pardon from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Australian Prime Minister’s Gratitude
The five remaining members of the Bali Nine drug trafficking syndicate have now returned to Australia after spending nearly 20 years in Indonesian prisons. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for facilitating the repatriation, thanking him “for his compassion.”
Furthermore, the Australian Government has stated that the convicts will now have the opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into Australian society.
cover: Source: Detik
