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Agence France-Presse

The five remaining members of the Australian “Bali Nine” drug ring flew home on Sunday after 19 years in jail in Indonesia, ending a saga that had frayed relations between the two countries.
Indonesian police arrested the nine Australians in 2005, convicting them of attempting to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin off the holiday island of Bali.
In a case that drew global attention to Indonesia’s unforgiving drug laws, two of the gang would eventually be executed by firing squad, while others served hefty prison sentences.
“The Australian Government can confirm that Australian citizens, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj have returned to Australia,” Canberra said in a statement.
“The men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the men returned in the afternoon, and he had thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his “compassion”.
“Australia shares Indonesia’s concern about the serious problem illicit drugs represents,” Albanese said.
“The government will continue to cooperate with Indonesia to counter narcotics trafficking and transnational crime,” he told reporters.
“These Australians spent more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home.”

The Australian government did not give further details on the agreement with Jakarta.
An Indonesian minister told reporters the five men had left the country as prisoners but “all the responsibilities for them” had now passed to Australia.
The men were accompanied on their flight home by three officials from the Australian embassy, another Indonesian official said.
The Australian government said it had consistently advocated for the men and provided consular support to them and their families during their incarceration.
It asked the media to respect their privacy.
Australia’s national broadcaster ABC said the men were now free, and would not have to serve further prison time at home.
The men had been given temporary accommodation and had made voluntary undertakings to continue their rehabilitation, it said.
It is not uncommon for foreigners to be arrested for drug offences in Bali, which attracts millions of visitors to its palm-fringed beaches every year.
Muslim-majority Indonesia has some of the world’s toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers.
Accused “Bali Nine” ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015 despite repeated pleas from the Australian government, which recalled its ambassador at the time.
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in 2018, months before Renae Lawrence was released after her sentence was commuted.
Australian police came under criticism after the Bali Nine’s arrests for alerting Indonesian authorities to the drug-smuggling ring despite the death penalty risk.
The release of the Australians followed weeks of speculation that a deal for their return was in the works.
In November, a senior Indonesian minister said Jakarta aimed to return prisoners from Australia, France and the Philippines by the end of this year.
France last month requested the return of its citizen, Serge Atlaoui, a welder arrested in 2005 in a drugs factory outside Jakarta, according to a senior Indonesian minister.
Earlier this month, Indonesia signed an agreement with the Philippines for the return of mother of two Mary Jane Veloso, who was arrested in 2010 after the suitcase she was carrying was found to be lined with 2.6kg (5.7lbs) of heroin.


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Australia

Australian Matthew Norman, left, a member of the Bali Nine group and serving life sentences for drug smuggling, was among the remaining five who were allowed to return home. Photo: AP

Indonesia’s Chief Minister for Law and Human Rights, Yusril Ihza Mahendra (right) and Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke. Photo: Reuters

Indonesia to return remaining Bali Nine drug smugglers to Australia

Indonesia executed Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan (left) and Myuran Sukumaran in 2015. Photo: Reuters

Melbourne synagogue fire an act of ‘terrorism’: Australian PM

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denounced the arson attack on the Melbourne synagogue as an act of “terrorism”. File photo: Reuters

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pessuto (C-L) poses for a photograph with members of Parliament and members of the Jewish community during a community solidarity rally following an arson attack on Adass Israel Synagogue. Photo: EPA-EFE

A person places a floral tribute at the scene of a fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne. Two suspected arsonists remain at large. Photo: EPA-EFE

Singapore police explain why they did not arrest Chinese fugitive on Interpol Red Notice

Indonesian immigration officers escort recently-arrested Chinese national Yan Zhenxing, during a press conference in Jakarta on  December 5.  Yan is on Interpol Red Notice list and wanted in China on allegations of laundering money for an online gambling syndicate. Photo: AP

Indonesian immigration officials hold Chinese fugitive Yan Zhangxing (centre), who is charged with alleged online gambling and money laundering, during a press conference in Jakarta on December 5. Photo: EPA-EFE

Vandals spray ‘Kill Israiel’ graffiti, torch car in Australia’s largest Jewish community

A torched car is removed in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra on Wednesday in front of anti-Israel graffiti written on a wall. Photo: Australian Broadcasting Corporation/AFP

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns (second from right) inspects the area where anti-Israel graffiti was written on a wall in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre) and members of the local Jewish community visit the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Tuesday after it was set ablaze days before. Photo: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet of Australia/AFP

Japanese court convicts Australian who says she was tricked into smuggling drugs

Family members of Australian citizen Donna Nelson walk out from the Chiba District Court after the opening day of the trial over Nelson for attempting to import drugs into Japan. Photo: AP

The Chiba District Court found Donna Nelson from Australia guilty of violating the stimulants control and customs laws, and ordered her to pay a fine of 1 million yen (US$6,671) in addition to serving a prison term. Photo: AP

News

Asia

Australasia

Five convicted members of the heroin smuggling drug ring were returned from Indonesia, following diplomatic efforts this month


Five convicted members of the heroin smuggling drug ring were returned from Indonesia, following diplomatic efforts this month.


Indonesia

Crime

Drugs