The five remaining members of the Australian “Bali Nine” drug gang say they are “relieved and happy” to return home after 19 years in prison in Indonesia.
The men – the last of nine Australian smugglers jailed in Indonesia in 2005 – arrived in Darwin on Sunday under a secret deal between the two countries.
“All five are relieved and happy to be back in Australia,” a statement issued by the men, their families and their lawyers said.
“They look forward to rejoining and contributing to society when the time comes,” it said in a statement received Monday.
Indonesian police arrested nine Australians in 2005, pleading guilty to attempting to smuggle more than eight kilograms (18 pounds) of heroin from the holiday island of Bali.
The case drew global attention to Indonesia’s unforgiving drug laws, with two of the gang’s men executed by firing squad, while others were given heavy prison sentences.
Those released – Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen and Michael Kazugaj – said they were “extremely grateful” to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for allowing them to return home.
Support from friends, family, lawyers and government officials was “essential and invaluable”, he said.
The statement said men now need “time and support” for their well-being, asking the media and community to make allowances for this.
Australia has not released details of the agreement with Indonesia that allowed their release.
Australian public broadcaster ABC said the men would not have to serve any further prison sentences, but had agreed to voluntarily continue their rehabilitation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday he thanked Indonesia’s president for his “compassion” in allowing the return of these people.
“These Australians spent more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. Now it’s time for them to come home,” he said.
Muslim-majority Indonesia has some of the toughest drug laws in the world, including the death penalty for traffickers.
Accused “Bali Nine” ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015 despite repeated appeals by the Australian government, which had recalled its ambassador at the time.
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in 2018, a few months before René Lawrence was released after his sentence was commuted.
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