Five members of the Bali Nine say they are “relieved and happy” to enjoy their first taste of freedom in almost two decades after returning to Australia as free men.
Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj returned to Australia on a commercial flight on Sunday on a top-secret mission following weeks of negotiations between the Australian and Indonesian governments.
The men are not required to serve prison sentences in Australia and will be able to live freely in the community.
Authorities did not confirm where they are staying, but they are believed to have been transported to a rehabilitation center in Howard Springs, near Darwin, Nine News reported.
The men thanked those who had worked to secure their release in a joint statement released by their lawyers Sunday night.
‘In both Australia and Indonesia, both at senior level and in prison visits and personal assistance, for many years DFAT has offered professional and long-term support. The men and their families will always be grateful,” the statement reads.
‘They hope, in time, to reintegrate into society and contribute to it.
“The well-being of men is a priority, they will need time and support, and we hope and trust that our media and our community will take this into account.”
The remaining members of the Bali Nine (LR), Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens, Matthew Norman (top), Michael Czugaj (bottom) and Scott Rush returned to Australia on Sunday.
The five men will not serve any prison sentences in Australia. Pictured are Bali 9 members Matthew Norman (left) and Si Yi Chen (right).
Norman, who at 18 was the youngest at the time of his arrest, spoke to the media days before his release from Kerobokan prison in Bali.
He was seen smiling and reportedly said he was feeling “good.”
The development comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested the transfer in a recent meeting with new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the APEC Summit last month, who agreed to allow the prisoners to return home by humanitarian reasons.
The Australians were arrested along with Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen and Renae Lawrence in Bali in April 2005 while attempting to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from the resort island.
Ringleaders Chan and Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in April 2015.
Stephen’s former cellmate Nguyen died of cancer in 2018, while Lawrence was freed that year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.
The Prime Minister confirmed on Sunday afternoon that the men are at home.
‘I am pleased to confirm that Australian citizens Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush and Martin Stephens have returned to Australia this afternoon. I thank President Prabowo Subianto for his compassion,” he wrote in X.
He later told reporters: ‘These Australians served more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to return home.
The five Australians will continue their rehabilitation in Australia and will receive short-term accommodation, government support and medical care during their transition back to living in the community.
It is believed that there was no prisoner exchange or ‘quid pro quo’ with Indonesia as part of the men’s release.
Martin Stephens was one of five Bali 9 members who returned home on Sunday.
“We would like to convey our deep gratitude to the Government of Indonesia for their cooperation in facilitating the return of the men to Australia on humanitarian grounds,” read a joint statement from Mr Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister of the Interior, Tony Burke.
“This reflects 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.
“We ask that the media respect the privacy of the men and their families at this time.”
Some of the men now have Indonesian families who did not travel to Australia with them.
Stephens previously said he would “reject” a prisoner swap so he could remain close to his stepdaughter and wife Christine Puspayanti, whom he married while behind bars in 2011.
“I am much freer here than in an Australian prison, although logically it would be better for my parents,” Stephens said in his last interview in 2020.
‘I teach English and play the seruling (traditional bamboo flute), but I haven’t learned Indonesian. “I want to maintain my Australian identity and avoid getting involved in factional fighting,” he told Indonesia Expat.
Ten months after their arrest, Chan and Sukumaran were sentenced to death by firing squad, while the remaining seven were sentenced to life imprisonment.