Bali Nine drug dealer Scott Rush learned his fate in connection with a series of crimes committed 20 years ago, just days after being released from a long prison sentence in Indonesia and returning home.
Supported by his parents Lee and Christine, Rush appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday to face historic charges that occurred before his 2005 arrest at Bali airport.
The man, now 39, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, receiving tainted goods and entering premises, all committed when he was 19. courier mail reported.
Realizing he would eventually have to face music for crimes committed in Australia, Rush turned himself in to Queensland police on Monday morning.
Magistrate Patricia Kirkman-Scroope initially questioned why a 20-year-old man facing charges was appearing before a court that deals with late-night arrests.
“I thought the name sounded familiar, but I didn’t make the connection,” he said.
The court heard Rush wanted to leave his past behind and make a valuable contribution to society.
His lawyer Terry Fisher added that his client received intensive counseling and took self-improvement courses during his 19-year stay in prison in Indonesia.
Scott Rush (center) is pictured with his parents Christine and Lee at Bali Police Headquarters on February 14, 2006.
“Clearly, over a 20-year period, we will have plenty of time to do this. “He has understanding and remorse for his previous conduct and what he has now committed to is reintegrating into Australian society,” Fisher told the court.
Rush pleaded guilty to seven counts of residential burglary in Brisbane, where he stole cash, a headset, a Nintendo GameBoy, Nokia mobile phones and jewelery in March 2005.
He also pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a Toyota sedan that month, to twice defrauding Cash Converters in late 2004, and to receiving stolen property and failing to appear in court in April 2005.
The court heard Rush committed most of the offenses while subject to suspended sentences ranging from one month to two months in jail, handed down in January 2005.
At the time he was a drug addict, which months later led to his arrest in Bali and spending almost two decades in prison, the court heard.
Scott Rush appears in a holding cell at Bali police headquarters on April 21, 2005.
Fisher also spoke about how Lee Rush’s attempt to help his drug-addicted son unintentionally led to him being imprisoned in Indonesia and facing the death penalty.
Rush told the Australian Federal Police he was suspicious of what his son was doing, and police promised to tell the then-teenager that he was under surveillance, to prevent him from getting involved.
‘What happened is that they didn’t do that. And before leaving for Indonesia, the AFP notified the Indonesian authorities that there were Australians there, knowing full well that it was a death sentence,” Fisher explained.
Fisher asked the court if Rush could be convicted but not sentenced, pointing to the two decades he had already spent in prison.
Police prosecutor Matthew Bach agreed to the submission and Kirkman-Scroope convicted Rush of 13 offences, but gave him no further punishment.
The period of execution of his 2005 suspended sentences was extended by two months.
“Very well, thank you Mr. Rush, all the best in your future endeavors,” said the magistrate.
“Thank you, your honor,” Rush responded.
Two weeks after returning to Australia after 20 years in an Indonesian jail, Bali Nine drug dealer Scott Rush (pictured centre, wearing green shorts) appeared in court in Brisbane on Monday.
Outside court, Rush expressed relief at having his son home.
Rush didn’t speak, but gave the reporter a thumbs-up.
He was among five remaining Bali Nine prisoners transferred to Australia earlier this month. after the federal government reached an agreement with Indonesia.
In addition to Rush, Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen and Michael Czugaj flew back to Australia on a commercial flight on a top-secret mission following weeks of negotiations between the two nations.
The news came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested the transfer in a meeting with Indonesia’s new president, Prabowo Subianto, at the APEC summit in November.
Subianto agreed to release the prisoners on humanitarian grounds.
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, another of the Bali Nine drug mules who had collectively attempted to smuggle 8.7kg of heroin, died of stomach cancer behind bars in 2018.
Chan and Sukumaran were executed in 2015, while Renae Lawrence was freed after serving 13 years.