Coordinating Minister Yusril: Five Members Of Bali Nine Moved And Stay In Prisoner Status

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that five members of the Bali Nine case were transferred to their home country, Australia, with permanent status as prisoners.

Yusril emphasized that the Indonesian government did not forgive the five inmates. This requirement, he said, was part of a practical arrangement signed by the governments of Australia and Indonesia.

"Their status is still a prisoner. We transferred them to Australia as prisoners. The Indonesian government does not provide forgiveness in any form," said Yusril in a statement received by ANTARA in Jakarta, Sunday.

In the practical regulation, it was also written that the Australian government expressed respect for the sovereignty and decision of the Indonesian court. In addition, Australia will also provide information to Indonesia regarding the status and treatment of prisoners after being transferred.

The five inmates who were transferred, among others, Matthew James Norman, Scott Anthony Rush, Si Yi Chen, Michael William Czugaj, and Martin Eric Stephens, were then added to the penalty list, in accordance with Indonesian law.

Yusril added that the agreement to transfer prisoners was signed based on the principle of reciprocity or reciprocity.

"Indonesia and Australia are committed to always working together on issues related to common interests in accordance with the internal legal framework," he also said.

Five of the nine Bali Nine prisoners were transferred to Australia on Sunday morning. They were handed over to the Australian government in the VIP Room II of the Swarawati Building at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.

Deputy Coordinator of Immigration and Corrections at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Rights, Kumham Imipas, I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, explained that the five inmates together with Australian representatives took off from Ngurah Rai Airport at 10.35 WITA and landed in Darwin, Australia at 13.12 WITA or around 14.42 local time.

Meanwhile, the practice arrangement for the transfer of five members of Bali Nine has been signed by Yusril and Minister of Home Affairs Tony Burke virtually on Thursday (12/12).

Bali Nine is the nickname for nine Australian inmates who were arrested in Bali for being involved in a drug syndicate case in 2005. They were proven to have smuggled 8.2 kilograms of heroin.