JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Indonesia’s Minister of Justice, Supratman Andi Agtas, announced that the government is evaluating the transfer of five foreign prisoners from the “Bali Nine” drug syndicate back to their home country, Australia. This group, infamous for heroin smuggling, is currently serving life sentences in Indonesia.

The assessment is being conducted in coordination with Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra and other key stakeholders. “The outcome of this evaluation will be presented to President Prabowo for final consideration, ensuring that the decision aligns with Indonesia’s best interests,” Supratman stated on Monday.

The five prisoners in question are Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens. These individuals remain incarcerated following their roles in a major drug trafficking operation uncovered in 2005.

President Prabowo Subianto has reportedly expressed conditional support for the transfer on humanitarian grounds and to maintain strong bilateral ties with Australia. However, Supratman noted that Indonesia lacks formal procedures for international prisoner transfers, which complicates the process.

“We must ensure that our legal authority is respected, even as we aim to foster good relations with our international partners,” Supratman emphasized. He insisted that the prisoners’ transfer does not equate to freedom, as they would continue serving their sentences under Indonesian law in Australia.

Additionally, Supratman highlighted that Indonesia is also exploring the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held abroad under a reciprocal agreement. “We hope to bring home Indonesian nationals serving sentences overseas, subject to agreed mechanisms,” he added.

Indonesia has received formal requests from foreign embassies to facilitate the transfer. These letters are being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, and the final proposal will be submitted to the President for approval.

The Bali Nine case has been a significant legal and diplomatic issue. The syndicate was caught attempting to smuggle 8.2 kilograms of heroin from Indonesia to Australia in 2005. Among the group, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, while other members received varied sentences.

Of the original nine, five remain in Indonesian prisons. The transfer discussion marks another chapter in the ongoing efforts to resolve international prisoner issues while maintaining Indonesia’s legal sovereignty. (Uki Ruknuddin)