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SYDNEY (Reuters) – The Australian government said on Sunday that five members of the “Bali Nine” drug ring had returned from Indonesia, following diplomatic efforts between the countries this month to reach a repatriation deal.
“The Australian Government can confirm that Australian citizens Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stevens, Xi Yi Chen and Michael Chugai have returned to Australia,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
The men were among nine people arrested in 2005 for trying to smuggle more than 8 kg (17.64 lb) of heroin from the Indonesian island of Bali.
“These Australians have served more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home,” Albanese said.
Two Bali Nine ringleaders, Andrew Chen and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed in 2015, prompting Australia to recall its ambassador in protest.
The only woman in the group was released from prison in 2018, and a male member died of cancer the same year.
“We would like to convey our deep gratitude to the Government of Indonesia for its cooperation in facilitating the men’s return to Australia on humanitarian grounds,” Albanese said.
It said the men’s return reflected the “strong bilateral relationship and mutual respect between Indonesia and Australia”.
“The men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.”
The Indonesian government said in a statement that the five prisoners were transferred from Bali on Sunday morning and landed in the Australian city of Darwin.
Indonesia’s Senior Legal Affairs Minister Jusril Ihza Mahendra met with Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke in Jakarta this month and submitted a draft proposal for the return of the five prisoners.
Terms of the draft included a ban on the five returning to Indonesia, regulations on the legal basis for the transfer and a requirement that Australia respect an Indonesian court decision, Yusril said.
Yusril said then that Indonesia would respect any decision made by Australia when the prisoners return home, including if the group is granted amnesty. He said the repatriation would not include an exchange of prisoners.
