The Transfer of Bali Nine Drug Smugglers: A Compelling Story
The new president of Indonesia has reportedly approved a deal to transfer the remaining Bali Nine drug smugglers back to Australia.
President’s Approval for Transfer
The Bali Times has reported that President Prabowo Subianto has agreed in principle to proceed with sending the five remaining group members back to their home soil.
“Regarding the Bali Nine, I emphasise once again, the President has agreed in principle to proceed with the transfer process,” the outlet quoted Law and Human Rights Minister Supratman Andi Atgas as saying.
“While I cannot confirm a specific timeline, the President’s agreement allows us to move forward with preparations.”
The Bali Nine Drug Smugglers
The “Bali Nine” was the nickname given to a group of nine Australians who were caught trying to smuggle more than 8.3 kilograms of heroin out of Indonesia in 2005.
The group, including Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, and Renae Lawrence, were arrested after Australian Federal Police tipped off the Indonesian authorities.
Chan and Sukumaran were executed in 2015, while the rest were sentenced to life in prison. Lawrence successfully appealed to have her sentence reduced to 20 years and was released after serving 13. Nguyen developed stomach cancer and died in prison in 2018.
Future of the Smugglers
However, this may not translate into freedom. Although details of the deal are not known, it’s expected that Indonesia will demand the smugglers continue to serve out their sentences.
Conclusion
The approval of the transfer of the remaining Bali Nine drug smugglers back to Australia marks a significant development in this long-standing case. The fate of these individuals remains uncertain as they await the next steps in the transfer process.
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