Australia says the five remaining members of the “Bali Nine” drug gang have returned home after nearly 20 years in an 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 Indonesian 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.
Getty ImagesIt became news around the world when the two leaders of the group, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, he was killed by gunmen in 2015clears the line with Australia.
Others were sentenced to life in prison.
The case exposed Indonesia’s strict drug laws, some of the strictest in the world.
One of the nine, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died of cancer in 2018. Soon after, Renae Lawrence, then 41 years old, had her sentence commuted after spending almost 13 years in prison.
The Australian government said of the five men’s return: “These men will have the opportunity to continue their rehabilitation and return to Australia.”
It expressed “deep appreciation” to Indonesia for allowing them to return home on humanitarian grounds.
It is not clear whether the men will be forced to continue serving their prison sentences in Australia under the terms of the deal.
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