- Request made from PM Anthony Albanese
The five remaining prisoners from the infamous Bali Nine group will 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.
Masterminds 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.
More to come
Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush (pictured 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
