Australia and Indonesia Near Deal on Bali Nine Prisoner Repatriation

Negotiations could see five Australians serving life sentences returned home, nearly two decades after their arrests for drug trafficking in Bali.

The Bali Nine were a group of nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8kg of heroin from Bali to Australia.
Two members, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed in 2015, while one died of cancer in 2018 and another was released and repatriated that same year.
Five members remain in Indonesian prisons, serving life sentences, but discussions between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have led to a tentative agreement for their transfer to Australian custody.
Indonesia has stipulated conditions for the transfer, including reciprocity for Indonesian prisoners in Australia and respect for the original sentences, though clemency decisions would rest with Australia.
The potential deal reflects broader diplomatic efforts and a shift in Indonesia's approach to capital punishment and prisoner repatriation under President Subianto.