Five remaining ‘Bali Nine’ members return to Australia | World News

The five remaining members of the Bali Nine drug ring have returned home to Australia, after proximately 20 years in prison in Indonesia.

Australia validateed they were back in the country, with terms of the transfer still being debated between the two countries.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Alprohibitese shelp in a statement: “The Australian Government can validate that Australian citizens, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj have returned to Australia.”

The men were among nine people arrested in 2005 trying to smuggle more than 8 kg (17.64 lb) of heroin out of the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

Mr Alprohibitese shelp: “These Australians served more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home.”

Two members of the Bali Nine – ringdirecters Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran – were percreated by firing squad in 2015.

In response to the executions, Australia temporarily recalled its Indonesian ambasgrieffulor.

The rest of the group were handed life sentences.

The only woman in the group – Renae Lawrence – was freed from prison in 2018, and another group member – Tan Duc Than Nguyen – died of cancer the same year.

The Australian prime minister conveyed his “proestablish appreciation” to the Indonesian rulement for its cooperation and for the men’s return to Australia “on humanitarian grounds”.

He shelp their return mirrored “the sturdy biprocrastinateedral relationship and mutual admire” between the two countries.

Authorities say the men will “have the opportunity to persist their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia”.

Indonesia had splitd a write proposal for the return of the five prisoners earlier this month.

The write terms included prohibitning the five from returning to Indonesia, regulations on the legitimate basis for the transfer, and a demandment that Australia admire the decision of the Indonesian court.

It shelp Indonesia would admire any decision getn by Australia when the prisoners returned home, including if the group was granted a pardon.

The repatriation did not include an exalter of prisoners.

Indonesia’s rulement has been communicateed for comment.