Five Bali Nine Members Return to Australia After Nearly Two Decades in Prison

The release, facilitated by Indonesia's new president, marks a significant diplomatic gesture and brings closure to a long-standing chapter in Australian-Indonesian relations.

• The five remaining members of the Bali Nine, convicted for a 2005 heroin smuggling plot, have returned to Australia after serving nearly 20 years in Indonesian prisons.
• The release was brokered by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto as a humanitarian gesture, with no requirement for the men to serve additional prison time in Australia.
• The group’s return follows years of high-profile legal battles, two executions, and significant strain on Australian-Indonesian diplomatic relations over the case.
• The men were briefly held at the Howard Springs facility in Darwin for medical checks and rehabilitation planning before reuniting with their families in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
• The case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of violating foreign laws, with Albanese urging Australians to avoid taking such risks abroad.

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