Bali Nine members who spent 19 years behind bars break their silence after returning to Australia in a ‘top secret operation’

Five members of Bali Nine say they’re ‘relieved and happy’ to be enjoying their first taste of freedom in almost two decades after they returned to Australia as free men.

Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj flew back to Australia on a commercial flight on Sunday in a top secret mission following weeks of negotiations between the Australian and Indonesian governments.

The men aren’t required to serve prison sentences in Australia and will be able to live freely in the community.

Authorities won’t confirm where they’re staying but are believed to have been transported to a rehabilitation facility near Darwin, Nine News reported. 

The men thanked those who had worked to secure their release in a joint statement released by their lawyers on Sunday night.

‘In both Australia and Indonesia, at both a senior level and in prison visits and personal assistance, over many years, DFAT have offered professional and enduring support. The men and their families will always be grateful,’ the statement read.

‘They look forward, in time, to reintegrating back into and contributing to society.

‘The welfare of the men is a priority, they will need time and support, and we hope and trust our media and community will make allowance for this.’

Mr Norman, who at 18 was the youngest at the time of his arrest, spoke to media days before his release from Kerobokan Prison in Bali

He was seen smiling and said that he was feeling ‘good’.

The development comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested the transfer at a recent meeting with new Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto at the APEC Summit last month, who agreed to let the prisoners return home on humanitarian grounds.

The Aussies were arrested alongside Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen and Renae Lawrence in Bali in April 2005 as they attempted to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from the holiday island.

Ringleaders Chan and Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in April 2015. 

Stephen’s former cellmate Nguyen died from cancer in 2018, while Lawrence was released that year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.

The Prime Minister confirmed on Sunday afternoon that the men are 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 on X.

He later told reporters: ‘These Australians served more than 19 years in prison in Indonesia. It was time for them to come home.’

The five Aussies will continue their rehabilitation in Australia and will be provided with short-term accommodation, government support and medical care during their transition to living back in the community.

It’s believed there was no prisoner swap or any ‘quid pro quo’ with Indonesia as part of the men’s release.

‘We would like to convey our deep appreciation to the government of Indonesia for its cooperation to facilitate the men’s return to Australia on humanitarian grounds, a joint statement from Mr Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke read.

‘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 didn’t travel to Australia with them.

Stephens previously said that he would ‘reject’ a prisoner exchange so he could remain close to his stepdaughter and wife Christine Puspayanti, whom he married while behind bars in 2011. 

‘I’m much freer here than I would be in an Australian jail, though 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 keep my Australian identity and avoid getting involved in faction fighting,’ he told Indonesia Expat. 

Ten months after their arrests, Chan and Sukumaran were sentenced to death by the firing squad while the remaining seven were handed life sentences.