Australia says ‘Bali Nine’ drug smugglers have returned home

Australia says the five remaining members of the “Bali Nine” drug ring have returned home after almost 20 years in Indonesian prison.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on social media: “I am pleased to confirm that Australian citizens, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush and Martin Stephens have returned to Australia this afternoon.”

He thanked Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto “for his compassion”.

The high-profile case began in 2005 when Indonesia caught nine young Australians trying to smuggle 8.3kg (18lb) of heroin out of Bali.

It made news worldwide when two of the gang’s ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a row with Australia.

Others were handed life terms in prison.

The case put a spotlight on Indonesia’s strict drug laws, some of the most stringent in the world.

One of the nine, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died of cancer in 2018. Shortly afterwards, Renae Lawrence, then 41, had her sentence commuted after spending almost 13 years in prison.

Australia’s government said of the five men’s return: “The men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.”

It expressed “deep appreciation” to Indonesia for allowing them to return home on humanitarian grounds.

It was not immediately clear if the men will be obliged to keep serving their prison sentences in Australia under the terms of the agreement.