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News.com.au
28-04-2025
- News.com.au
Ten years on: Remembering the Bali Nine executions that shocked a nation
Ten years have passed since Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran faced a firing squad in Indonesia, capping one of the most controversial drug-smuggling cases in Australian and Indonesian history. The Bali Nine, made up of nine young Australians, were arrested in April 2005 after attempting to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin, worth around $4m, into Australia from Indonesia. A decade later, in the early hours of April 29, 2015, Chan and Sukumaran were executed by firing squad on Nusakambangan Island, Indonesia. The executions took place after midnight local time, around 3am AEST, and were confirmed by the Indonesian Attorney-General's office shortly afterwards. In their final hours, both men were surrounded by loved ones. Chan, having become a committed Christian, married his fiancee in a private ceremony on the eve of his execution. Sukumaran, a prolific artist during his time in prison, continued to paint until the end. Six months before the Bali Nine arrests, the world's media had already been focused on Bali due to the high-profile case of Schapelle Corby, who was arrested in October 2004 for attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of cannabis into Indonesia. The media frenzy surrounding Corby's arrest and subsequent trial intensified the global scrutiny on Indonesia's handling of foreign nationals involved in drug-related offences, creating a tense atmosphere for the Bali Nine case. The operation was led by Chan and Sukumaran, who were the masterminds behind the scheme. The Australian Federal Police monitored Chan, Sukumaran, Renae Lawrence and Matthew Norman, before alerting Indonesian authorities about the group's movements Indonesian police then began surveillance on the group, which lasted for a week before their arrests on April 17, 2005. Six of the group were arrested Denpasar Airport, with others detained at the Maslati Hotel in Kuta where heroin was discovered in the possession of several members. Among those arrested were ringleaders Chan and Sukumaran, along with Lawrence, the only female member of the group, Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Si Yi Chen and Woo Sze Kwan. The arrests sent shockwaves through both Australia and Indonesia and the media quickly dubbed them the 'Bali Nine'. The trials began in October 2005, with all nine members facing drug trafficking charges. Seven were sentenced to life imprisonment, while Chan and Sukumaran were handed the death penalty. It was a shocking decision as it marked the first time the Denpasar District Court had imposed the death sentence for drug trafficking. The decision sparked widespread protests and public outcry, particularly in Australia, with numerous attempts to reduce Chan and Sukumaran's death sentences rejected by Indonesian courts. The two men spent years in prison, where they gained international attention for their transformation and rehabilitation. Sukumaran, a skilled painter, and Chan, who converted to Christianity, became symbols of the possibility of redemption, with many advocating for clemency. Despite all avenues being exhausted, however, there was no leniency. Following their execution, the families of the two men said the pair 'did all they could to make amends, helping many others'. 'They asked for mercy, but there was none. They were immensely grateful for all the support they received,' a statement read. Their deaths prompted strong reactions across Australia, with political leaders, including then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, vocally opposing the death penalty. 'These executions are both cruel and unnecessary; cruel because both Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran spent some decade in jail before being executed, and unnecessary, because both of these young Australians were fully rehabilitated while in prison,' the former prime minister said. Mr Abbott said that while Australia respected Indonesia's sovereignty, 'this cannot be simply business as usual'. Australia withdrew its ambassador in protest and ministerial contacts between the two countries were also suspended. Former Labor leader Bill Shorten and former deputy leader Tanya Plibersek condemned the move 'in the strongest possible terms'. 'Our best hopes have been dashed and our worst fears realised,' they said in a joint statement. 'These two young men made a dreadful mistake. By all accounts they spent every minute since seeking to mend their ways and to steer others on the road to redemption – proof the justice system could reform wrongdoers, not just punish wrongdoing. Yet today, they were made to pay for one stupid decision of 10 years ago with their lives.' Former New South Wales Premier Mike Baird described the loss as a 'cruel and devastating loss'. Former AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin and former Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan held a press conference following the executions to address the AFP's role in the operation. Mr Colvin defended the AFP's decision to inform Indonesia about the Bali Nine drug smuggling operation, explaining that at the time, the AFP did not have enough evidence to arrest the Australians before they left for Indonesia. 'At the time we were working with a very incomplete picture,' Mr Colvin said, adding that the AFP had not known all the individuals involved or the full scope of the plans. He explained that it was 'operationally appropriate' for the AFP to co-operate with Indonesian authorities to gather more information. However, the decision to co-operate has been met with criticism. Barrister Bob Myers, a family friend of Bali Nine member Scott Rush, claimed that the AFP was complicit in the operation and should have intervened to stop the group from travelling to Indonesia. Mr Myers argued that the AFP had sufficient information to arrest the couriers when they returned to Australia. Mr Colvin, however, rejected the claims and said the AFP needed more details about the wider drug syndicate to take meaningful action. Mr Phelan acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, revealing that while he was aware of the potential death penalty facing those arrested, he felt that the information-sharing was necessary to combat the broader drug trade. 'I've agonised over it for 10 years now,' Mr Phelan said. 'But given what I knew at that particular time, and what our officers knew, I would take a lot of convincing to make a different decision. 'I've seen the misery that drugs causes to tens of thousands of families in this country.' Mr Colvin said the AFP has since strengthened its protocols around dealing with countries that have the death penalty. 'We have to protect all members of the community. This was a very difficult decision,' Mr Colvin said. 'Operationally, it was a sound decision but that doesn't mean there were not human factors in it.' Since the execution of Chan and Sukumaran, the remaining members of the Bali Nine have served lengthy prison sentences. After years of legal battles and shifting sentences, several members were released or had their sentences reduced. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 after serving 13 years in prison, while Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, who had been sentenced to death, died from cancer in 2018. In late 2024, the remaining five members, Michael Czugaj, Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens, were finally freed after serving nearly 20 years in Indonesian prisons. This was the result of a deal negotiated between the Australian government and Indonesia, which saw the men return to Australia on humanitarian grounds. The men, now in their late 30s and early 40s, have expressed their relief at finally being able to reintegrate into Australian society, though all are banned from returning to Indonesia.
West Australian
28-04-2025
- West Australian
Ten years on: Remembering the Bali Nine executions that shocked a nation
Ten years have passed since Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran faced a firing squad in Indonesia, capping one of the most controversial drug-smuggling cases in Australian and Indonesian history. The Bali Nine, made up of nine young Australians, were arrested in April 2005 after attempting to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin, worth around $4m, into Australia from Indonesia. A decade later, in the early hours of April 29, 2015, Chan and Sukumaran were executed by firing squad on Nusakambangan Island, Indonesia. The executions took place after midnight local time, around 3am AEST, and were confirmed by the Indonesian Attorney-General's office shortly afterwards. In their final hours, both men were surrounded by loved ones. Chan, having become a committed Christian, married his fiancee in a private ceremony on the eve of his execution. Sukumaran, a prolific artist during his time in prison, continued to paint until the end. Six months before the Bali Nine arrests, the world's media had already been focused on Bali due to the high-profile case of Schapelle Corby, who was arrested in October 2004 for attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of cannabis into Indonesia. The media frenzy surrounding Corby's arrest and subsequent trial intensified the global scrutiny on Indonesia's handling of foreign nationals involved in drug-related offences, creating a tense atmosphere for the Bali Nine case. The operation was led by Chan and Sukumaran, who were the masterminds behind the scheme. The Australian Federal Police monitored Chan, Sukumaran, Renae Lawrence and Matthew Norman, before alerting Indonesian authorities about the group's movements Indonesian police then began surveillance on the group, which lasted for a week before their arrests on April 17, 2005. Six of the group were arrested Denpasar Airport, with others detained at the Maslati Hotel in Kuta where heroin was discovered in the possession of several members. Among those arrested were ringleaders Chan and Sukumaran, along with Lawrence, the only female member of the group, Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Si Yi Chen and Woo Sze Kwan. The arrests sent shockwaves through both Australia and Indonesia and the media quickly dubbed them the 'Bali Nine'. The trials began in October 2005, with all nine members facing drug trafficking charges. Seven were sentenced to life imprisonment, while Chan and Sukumaran were handed the death penalty. It was a shocking decision as it marked the first time the Denpasar District Court had imposed the death sentence for drug trafficking. The decision sparked widespread protests and public outcry, particularly in Australia, with numerous attempts to reduce Chan and Sukumaran's death sentences rejected by Indonesian courts. The two men spent years in prison, where they gained international attention for their transformation and rehabilitation. Sukumaran, a skilled painter, and Chan, who converted to Christianity, became symbols of the possibility of redemption, with many advocating for clemency. Despite all avenues being exhausted, however, there was no leniency. Following their execution, the families of the two men said the pair 'did all they could to make amends, helping many others'. 'They asked for mercy, but there was none. They were immensely grateful for all the support they received,' a statement read. Their deaths prompted strong reactions across Australia, with political leaders, including then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, vocally opposing the death penalty. 'These executions are both cruel and unnecessary; cruel because both Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran spent some decade in jail before being executed, and unnecessary, because both of these young Australians were fully rehabilitated while in prison,' the former prime minister said. Mr Abbott said that while Australia respected Indonesia's sovereignty, 'this cannot be simply business as usual'. Australia withdrew its ambassador in protest and ministerial contacts between the two countries were also suspended. Former Labor leader Bill Shorten and former deputy leader Tanya Plibersek condemned the move 'in the strongest possible terms'. 'Our best hopes have been dashed and our worst fears realised,' they said in a joint statement. 'These two young men made a dreadful mistake. By all accounts they spent every minute since seeking to mend their ways and to steer others on the road to redemption – proof the justice system could reform wrongdoers, not just punish wrongdoing. Yet today, they were made to pay for one stupid decision of 10 years ago with their lives.' Former New South Wales Premier Mike Baird described the loss as a 'cruel and devastating loss'. Former AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin and former Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan held a press conference following the executions to address the AFP's role in the operation. Mr Colvin defended the AFP's decision to inform Indonesia about the Bali Nine drug smuggling operation, explaining that at the time, the AFP did not have enough evidence to arrest the Australians before they left for Indonesia. 'At the time we were working with a very incomplete picture,' Mr Colvin said, adding that the AFP had not known all the individuals involved or the full scope of the plans. He explained that it was 'operationally appropriate' for the AFP to co-operate with Indonesian authorities to gather more information. However, the decision to co-operate has been met with criticism. Barrister Bob Myers, a family friend of Bali Nine member Scott Rush, claimed that the AFP was complicit in the operation and should have intervened to stop the group from travelling to Indonesia. Mr Myers argued that the AFP had sufficient information to arrest the couriers when they returned to Australia. Mr Colvin, however, rejected the claims and said the AFP needed more details about the wider drug syndicate to take meaningful action. Mr Phelan acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, revealing that while he was aware of the potential death penalty facing those arrested, he felt that the information-sharing was necessary to combat the broader drug trade. 'I've agonised over it for 10 years now,' Mr Phelan said. 'But given what I knew at that particular time, and what our officers knew, I would take a lot of convincing to make a different decision. 'I've seen the misery that drugs causes to tens of thousands of families in this country.' Mr Colvin said the AFP has since strengthened its protocols around dealing with countries that have the death penalty. 'We have to protect all members of the community. This was a very difficult decision,' Mr Colvin said. 'Operationally, it was a sound decision but that doesn't mean there were not human factors in it.' Since the execution of Chan and Sukumaran, the remaining members of the Bali Nine have served lengthy prison sentences. After years of legal battles and shifting sentences, several members were released or had their sentences reduced. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 after serving 13 years in prison, while Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, who had been sentenced to death, died from cancer in 2018. In late 2024, the remaining five members, Michael Czugaj, Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens, were finally freed after serving nearly 20 years in Indonesian prisons. This was the result of a deal negotiated between the Australian government and Indonesia, which saw the men return to Australia on humanitarian grounds. The men, now in their late 30s and early 40s, have expressed their relief at finally being able to reintegrate into Australian society, though all are banned from returning to Indonesia.
Sky News AU
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Mercedes Corby sends social media into a spin as she shows off bold new bleach blonde look on night out
Mercedes Corby has stunned as she showed off her bold new look on social media, which stood in stark contrast to her signature appearance. The older sister of Australian convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, 50, debuted her stunning makeover on Instagram on Sunday. The Gold Coast-based influencer swapped her signature straight highlighted brunette tresses for wavy bleach-blonde locks. Her hair flowed in a tousled style down her shoulders, framing her face as she flashed her smile and huddled with her pals at a bar. "At our age, it's not about how fast you run to make happy hour... it's about who's laughing beside you at the hand dryer," the Australian bar owner wrote in the caption. Mercedes' face was also markedly different to her striking visage while she supported Schapelle throughout her trial in Bali, Indonesia, in 2005. The then 30-year-old's locks donned a caramel shade as she and her sister's mother Rosleigh reacted from the courtroom stands in Denpasar where a judge sentenced Schapelle to 20 years in prison. In 2017, Mercedes looked different again during the infamous scenes in which the former beauty student was deported and returned to Australia. Nevertheless, she stunned in her latest photos and confidently flaunted her new aesthetic, sending her more than 18,000 followers into a frenzy. "Looking more beautiful as always..." said one person. "Absolutely Merc…never miss a chance to have some fun. Life's way too short!" said another. The mother-of-three shares sons Wayan Jr. and Nyoman and daughter Nyeleigh with her ex-husband Wayan Widiartha, who she split from in 2014. Mercedes rose to nationwide attention shortly after her sister was arrested at Bali's Denpasar Airport in October 2004, where customs officials found 4.2kg of marijuana concealed in her boogie board. She was often photographed while visiting Schapelle at the notorious Kerobokan prison before she briefly launched a career as a model and appeared on the cover of the axed men's magazine Ralph in 2008. The Corby sisters live on the Gold Coast, where they have maintained a relatively low profile since Schapelle was released on parole in 2014.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Flight turns around after ‘disruptive' passenger tries to open door over ocean
*Attached video: US Airlines rankings (WJW) – A flight heading from Indonesia to Australia was forced to turn around after a passenger tried to open the door while over the ocean. According to PEOPLE, the Jetstar flight took off from the Denpasar Airport in Bali, Indonesia, on March 31. Summit County inmate dies following medical emergency The flight, carrying about 200 passengers, was heading to Melbourne, Australia According to PEOPLE, a Jetstar Airlines statement said a 'disruptive' passenger tried to open one of the doors on the plane and was 'abusive' to the flight crew. The airline also stated that its customer and crew safety is its top priority. According to PEOPLE, the passenger was removed from the plane by Bali authorities and the flight was canceled, but other passengers were provided an alternative flight According to a post on Instagram, Australian TV host Jacqueline Felgate was on the flight at the time of the incident. She posted a video on Instagram of the captain's message to passengers. Dressing sold at Trader Joe's in Ohio, 16 other states recalled 'Earlier tonight, there was a lady down back at the aircraft that tried to physically open the door. She lifted the handle … we got a door warning in the front of the aircraft,' the captain is heard saying in the video. 'So basically the safety of the aircraft, the possibility of the door opening in flight … we don't know why [this happened] but unfortunately the safest course of action is to return to land.' According to the Flight tracking website Flight Radar 24, the plane took off at 8:20 p.m. and was diverted back to Denpasar Airport over an hour into the flight. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Flight to Melbourne Forced to Turn Around After 'Disruptive' Passenger Tries to Open Plane Door Over Indian Ocean
A Jetstar plane flying from Bali, Indonesia, to Melbourne, Australia, was forced to turn around after a passenger tried to open the door. The aircraft, carrying around 200 passengers, took off from Denpasar Airport before returning after the 'disruptive' passenger attempted to open the plane door over an hour into the flight over the Indian Ocean on Monday, March 31, Jetstar announced. The airline said in a statement to PEOPLE, 'We had an aircraft return to Denpasar last night after a disruptive passenger attempted to open one of the aircraft doors and was abusive to our crew.' 'The safety and welfare of our customers and crew is our top priority and we thank them for the way they responded to the situation. This sort of unacceptable behavior will never be tolerated on our flights.' The passenger was removed from the aircraft by local authorities in Bali and the flight was canceled. The airline shared that the other passengers were provided an alternative flight. Related: United Airlines Flight to China Forced to Turn Around After Pilot Realizes He's Forgotten His Passport Flight tracking website Flight Radar 24 shows that the plane took off at 8:20 p.m. local time before it was diverted back to Denpasar Airport over an hour into the flight. Australian TV host Jacqueline Felgate, who was on the flight, posted a video on Instagram of the captain's message to passengers as the plane made its journey back to Bali. 'Earlier tonight, there was a lady down back at the aircraft that tried to physically open the door. She lifted the handle … we got a door warning in the front of the aircraft,' the captain said. '…For the safety of the aircraft, the possibility of the door opening also in flight … we don't know why [this happened] but unfortunately the safest course of action is to … return to land.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: Passenger Jet Forced to Make Diverted Landing After Pilot Reportedly Collapses amid Mid-Air 'Medical Emergency' Australian Survivor star Brooke Jowett was also on the flight and shared on her Instagram Stories, "Two hours into the flight flight attendants start running, people start freaking out and we get told to put our seatbelts on immediately. We soon find out we're heading back to Bali as a passenger decided she no longer wanted to be on the flight and tried forcing open the emergency door mid-air.' Jowett said it was 'a very scary few hours' and she planned to head back home to Melbourne the next day. She also posted a photo after arriving back at Denpasar Airport of disgruntled passengers collecting their luggage as she wrote "a s--- show." PEOPLE has reached out to Denpasar Airport for comment. Read the original article on People
