After two decades of imprisonment, five Australians from the infamous “Bali Nine” group have returned home, marking a major victory for Australian diplomacy. The group’s members, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens, were part of the original nine who attempted to smuggle over 8 kilograms of heroin out of Bali’s international airport in 2005.
The five men are relieved and happy to be back in Australia, where they look forward to reintegrating into society. They expressed gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his government for their release, as well as Australian authorities and friends who supported them during their ordeal.
The botched plot has long been a point of tension between the two countries, with the Australian government advocating for their return for decades. The case highlighted Indonesia’s strict laws on drug trafficking, detaining several foreigners on similar charges.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secured the deal by raising the men’s case during the APEC Summit in Peru last month. The agreement was confirmed after a statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong, which said the men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/15/australia/indonesia-bali-nine-release-intl-hnk/index.html