Bali Nine Prisoners Moved To Australia, Indonesia Still Monitors Through The Indonesian Embassy

"Australia will provide us with the latest information about the condition of the prisoners and open access for the Indonesian Embassy in Australia to monitor their progress," said Yusril when contacted in Jakarta, last Sunday, as reported by ANTARA.

Yusril explained that the Australian government had approved all requirements submitted by Indonesia regarding the transfer of the five Bali Nine inmates.

"We signed this practical arrangement on December 12, 2024, and the transfer was carried out on December 15, 2024. All conditions have been agreed," he said.

Five members of Bali Nine prisoners who were transferred on Sunday (12/12/2024) morning were Matthew James Norman, Scott Anthony Rush, Si Yi Chen, Michael William Czugaj, and Martin Eric Stephens. They were handed over to Australian authorities at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali. The group departed from Bali at 10.35 WITA and was expected to arrive in Darwin, Australia, at 13.12 WITA (around 14:42 local time).

Yusril explained that the five Bali Nine inmates were still being transferred with the status of prisoners. The Indonesian government did not forgive them, in accordance with the agreed provisions between the two countries.

In the practical regulation, it is also stated that the Australian government recognizes and respects the sovereignty and decision of the Indonesian court. The five inmates were then added to the penalty list, meaning they would not be allowed to enter Indonesia for life.

"All of them will be prevented from entering Indonesia forever," added Yusril.

Bali Nine is the name for nine Australian citizens who were arrested in Bali in 2005 for being involved in a drug syndicate. They were proven to have smuggled 8.2 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia.

The five prisoners who were transferred were the rest of Bali Nine who are still serving their sentences in Indonesia. The other four members have been executed, released after receiving remission, or died while serving a sentence. Yusril explained that the five Bali Nine inmates were still transferred with the status of prisoners. The Indonesian government did not give pardons to them, in accordance with the provisions agreed between the two countries.

In the practical regulation, it is also stated that the Australian government recognizes and respects the sovereignty and decision of the Indonesian court. The five inmates were then added to the penalty list, meaning they would not be allowed to enter Indonesia for life.

"All of them will be prevented from entering Indonesia forever," added Yusril.

Bali Nine adalah sebutan bagi sembilan warga negara Australia yang ditangkap di Bali pada 2005 karena terlibat dalam sindikat narkoba. Mereka terbukti menyelundupkan 8,2 kilogram heroin ke Indonesia.

Kelima narapidana yang dipindahkan ini merupakan sisa dari Bali Nine yang masih menjalani hukuman di Indonesia. Empat anggota lainnya sudah dieksekusi mati, dibebaskan setelah mendapat remisi, atau meninggal dunia saat menjalani pidana.

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumran were executed in 2015. Renae Lawrence, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison, was released in 2018 after receiving several remissions. Another member of Bali Nine, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died in 2018 in prison while serving life imprisonment.