'Thank God I'm home' - 'Bali Nine' drug ring prisoners relieved to be alive and return home

This handout photograph taken and released by Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections on December 15, 2024 shows five 'Bali Nine' convicts namely Martin Eric Stephens (L), Michael William Czugaj (2L, back), Scott Anthony Rush (C, back), Mathew James Norman (2R, back), and Si Yi Chen (R, back) look on as Director of Prisoner Development of the Directorate General of Corrections of the Republic of Indonesia Erwedi Supriyatno (R, front) and Australian Representative, Minister-Counsellor Home Affairs, Regional Director South-East Asia, Lauren Richardson (L, front) sign their transfer agreement at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali. The five remaining members of the Australian "Bali Nine" drug ring flew home on December 15, 2024 after 19 years in jail in Indonesia, ending a saga that had frayed relations between the two countries. - AFP

SYDNEY (AFP): The five remaining members of the Australian "Bali Nine" drug ring say they are "relieved and happy" over their return home after 19 years in jail in Indonesia.

The men -- the last behind bars among nine Australian smugglers who were jailed in Indonesia in 2005 -- flew into Darwin on Sunday under a secretive deal between the two countries.

"The five men are relieved and happy to be back in Australia," said a statement released on behalf of the men, their families and their lawyers.

"They look forward, in time, to reintegrating back into and contributing to society," said the statement received Monday.

Indonesian police arrested the nine Australians in 2005, convicting them of attempting to smuggle more than eight kilograms (18 pounds) of heroin off the holiday island of Bali.

The case drew global attention to Indonesia's unforgiving drug laws, with two of the gang executed by firing squad, while the others served hefty prison sentences.

The released men -- Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj -- said they were "immensely grateful" to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for allowing them to return home.

Support from friends, family, lawyers and government officials had been "essential and invaluable", they said.

The men now need "time and support" for their welfare, the statement said, asking media and the community to make allowance for this.

Australia has not released details of the agreement with Indonesia that allowed their release.

Australian public broadcaster ABC said the men did not have to serve further prison time but had agreed voluntarily to continue their rehabilitation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Sunday he had thanked Indonesia's president for his "compassion" in allowing the men's return.

"These Australians spent more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home," he said.

Muslim-majority Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers.

Accused "Bali Nine" ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015 despite repeated pleas from the Australian government, which recalled its ambassador at the time.

Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in 2018, months before Renae Lawrence was released after her sentence was commuted. - AFP