Indonesia And Australia Move Towards Prisoner Exchange Deal, Send Back Bali Nine Members

Indonesia has agreed to return the remaining five members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling group to Australia, where they have been serving life sentences, according to Indonesia’s Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas. The decision comes as part of a broader effort by Indonesia to negotiate prisoner repatriations with Australia.

In a statement on Saturday, Minister Agtas confirmed that the Indonesian government would also seek the return of its prisoners currently held in Australian jails. The move follows discussions between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the APEC Summit in Peru. Australian Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones also confirmed the talks during a press conference on Saturday.

This development comes shortly after Indonesia granted a reprieve to Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino woman previously sentenced to death for drug trafficking, allowing her to serve the remainder of her sentence in the Philippines. Veloso had been spared from execution in 2015 after Philippine officials urged Indonesia to permit her to testify against members of a drug-smuggling ring. At the time, two of the Bali Nine’s leaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad.

Supratman emphasized that while Indonesia does not have formal procedures for international prisoner transfers, it aims to expedite the repatriation process with countries that respect Indonesia’s judicial system. He added that this initiative is vital for maintaining strong international relationships, as it aligns with Indonesia’s interest in securing the return of its own prisoners from abroad.

The Bali Nine were arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin from Indonesia’s Bali island to Australia. While one member was released from prison in 2018 and another died of cancer that same year, the remaining prisoners’ repatriation is expected to take place soon. The 2015 execution of Chan and Sukumaran strained relations between the two countries, resulting in Australia recalling its ambassador in protest.