Bali Nine Prisoners: Transfer to Australia Could Happen Before Christmas, Says Yusril

BALI, RAKYAT NEWS – Indonesian Minister of Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Prisons, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, clarified the ongoing discussions regarding the transfer of Bali Nine drug convicts to their home country, Australia.

Yusril spoke on the matter during the National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi) in Jimbaran, Bali, emphasizing that the transfer is not related to the nature of the crimes committed but rather the length of their sentences.

“The main consideration is not the crime, but the severity of the sentence,” Yusril stated. He elaborated that what the Australian government has requested is the transfer of prisoners who have been sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty, particularly those involved in high-profile cases like the Bali Nine drug trafficking syndicate.

However, the policy does not apply to Australian citizens who have committed less severe crimes. Yusril gave an example of an Australian citizen convicted of theft, who received only a short prison sentence, and pointed out that such individuals do not fall under the bilateral agreement for prisoner transfers.

Yusril also confirmed that the matter of transferring the Bali Nine convicts now rests with the Australian government. He revealed that he met with Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, during his visit to Jakarta on December 3, 2024. The meeting, attended by Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams, involved discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation in legal matters, including the transfer of the remaining Bali Nine prisoners.

In that meeting, the Australian government formally requested the transfer of the five remaining Bali Nine prisoners, who are serving life sentences in Indonesia. Yusril mentioned that Indonesia had presented certain conditions for the transfer, which are under review by the Australian government.

Yusril also disclosed that he had submitted a draft agreement for the prisoner transfer to the Australian government. This draft outlines the necessary legal framework for transferring the Bali Nine prisoners between the two countries. He explained that Australia needs time to review the draft and that the transfer’s timing depends on reaching a mutual agreement on the terms.

Once the Australian government has reviewed the draft and provided a response, any necessary adjustments to the agreement will be discussed. Yusril stated that if both sides agree, the transfer process can proceed promptly, but this will only happen once the two governments finalize the details.

The Bali Nine refers to the nine Australian nationals arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8.2 kilograms of heroin out of Indonesia. Two of them, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed in 2015, while Renae Lawrence, who received a 20-year sentence, was released in 2018 after receiving multiple sentence reductions. Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died in prison in 2018 while serving his life sentence.

Currently, five members of the Bali Nine are still incarcerated in Indonesia, serving life sentences: Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens. These individuals are the subject of the ongoing discussions between the Indonesian and Australian governments regarding their potential transfer.

He assured that the government of Indonesia is proceeding cautiously and will not rush the process. Both countries are seeking to ensure that the transfer is conducted in a manner that respects legal protocols and bilateral agreements, with both sides working toward a fair resolution.(Uki Ruknuddin)