Mon Dec 16 08:48:08 UTC 2024: ## Bali Nine Members Released, Return to Australia After Nearly 20 Years

**Melbourne, Australia –** Five Australian men, members of the Bali Nine heroin smuggling ring, have returned to Australia after serving nearly two decades in Indonesian prisons. The men – Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj – were released under a deal brokered between the Australian and Indonesian governments. Their repatriation, shrouded in secrecy until Sunday, December 15th, 2024, marks a significant development in a case that has strained relations between the two countries for years.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the men’s release, thanking Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for the “act of compassion.” He emphasized that no reciprocal prisoner exchange or other concessions were involved. The five were among nine Australians arrested in Bali in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin. Two ringleaders were executed in 2015, causing a major diplomatic incident. Another member died in prison, and one woman was previously released.

Indonesian Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated that the five men were transferred under a “Practical Arrangement” signed on December 12th, 2024, and flew from Bali to Darwin on a Jetstar flight. While technically still prisoners during the transfer, they were released into Australian custody. The Australian government is providing the men with temporary accommodation, medical care, and support for their reintegration into society. Their families expressed relief and hope for their future contributions to society. The release concludes a long and complex chapter in the relationship between Australia and Indonesia, highlighting a gesture of compassion from the Indonesian government.

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