EXCLUSIVE
The five remaining members of the Bali Nine have no idea they will return to Australia after almost 15 years behind bars in Balinese prisons.
Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj are serving life sentences in Indonesia.
In 2005, they and four other Australians were arrested while trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from the holiday island.
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in 2018, while Renae Lawrence was released that same year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.
The masterminds of the drug scheme, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad in 2015 on Nusa Kambangan or ‘Prison Island’.
Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal the five remaining Australians have not been informed of Anthony Albanese’s request to be flown home.
Kerobokan prison governor Kristyo Nugroho said he has not informed the two Australians imprisoned in his jail, Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen, about the important update because he has not yet received any official information from Jakarta.
Australian Matthew Norman is seen arriving for his sentencing trial in February 2006.
Si Yi Chen (pictured in 2007) was sentenced to death for attempting to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia. He has reportedly been teaching other prisoners how to make silver jewelry.
Pictured, top left to right: Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence and bottom: Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephen and Andrew Chan.
“They are fine, healthy,” Kristyo said of the two men’s conditions.
The Kerobokan prison governor previously noted that both Norman and Chen had shown good behavior behind bars, according to prison sources.
However, Scott Rush was transferred from Kerobokan Prison several years ago as a result of his bad behavior at the time.
The prison warden has recommended that both Norman and Chen be given the opportunity to apply for life sentences each year in recognition of their efforts to rehabilitate themselves and other prisoners.
Norman has been teaching English and trying his hand at T-shirt printing, while Chen has been teaching other prisoners how to make silver jewelry.
Meanwhile, Rush spent time in Karangasem Prison before being transferred to the relatively new high-security Bangli narcotics prison after the Mount Agung volcano erupted at least five times in 2017.
All prisoners from Karangasem Prison were transferred to various prisons in Bali during the eruption, including Rush.
Rush, whose death sentence was changed to life in prison in 2011, reportedly plays tennis every day in prison and is an active member of the prison church.
Renae Lawrence (pictured behind bars in 2005) is the only Bali Nine member to have been returned to society, but she has struggled to find normalcy.
Rush (pictured, aged 19 in 2005) reportedly plays tennis every day at Bangli Narcotics Prison, where he has become an active member of the prison church.
In December 2019, Rush (pictured) vowed to become an anti-drug activist in an emotional letter calling for his life sentence to be reduced.
In December 2019, Rush vowed to become an anti-drug activist in an emotional letter calling for his life sentence to be reduced.
“I sincerely apologize to the government and citizens of Indonesia for the shameful impact my action caused on the country of Indonesia and its people,” the letter said.
The Queenslander said he would like to become an “anti-drug ambassador” to make a positive contribution to society.
The passionate letter came after photos were leaked in 2014 that appeared to show Rush smoking crack in Kerobokan prison.
Meanwhile, Lawrence, the only Bali Nine member to have been returned to society, said he had struggled to find normality.
He had previously called for the sentences of the five remaining prisoners to be reduced and said remaining behind bars “was like a death sentence”.
“We all did something stupid, we’re all sorry, but everyone deserves a second chance,” Lawrence said in February 2020. “If this doesn’t happen, they’ll have no hope, they’ll lose hope, and it’ll be the end.” be devastating.”
The arrest of the Bali Nine caused great controversy because the tip that they were carrying drugs came from the Australian Federal Police, which could have allowed them to land in Australia, where they would not have faced the death penalty.
On Friday, the coordinating minister for legal affairs, human rights, immigration and prisons, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, told The Weekend that Australian Anthony Albanese had requested that the prisoners be transferred to Australia.
“The President of Indonesia responded that they are currently reviewing and processing the matter and it is expected to be carried out in December,” he said.
He added that Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had previously requested that “Australian citizens convicted of drug offenses and serving sentences in various prisons be transferred to Australia.”