Why Scott Rush is the only Bali Nine member not going home for Christmas
An outstanding arrest warrant means Bali Nine inmate Scott Rush will not be able to celebrate Christmas with his loved ones this year after spending almost two decades behind bars.
Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen each left Howard Springs Accommodation Village near Darwin on flights to their home states after landing in Australia on Sunday.
Rush is the only Bali Nine prisoner who will not be reunited with his family this Christmas as his legal team liaises with Queensland Police over a previous arrest warrant.
He is expected to fly home from the Northern Territory in the coming weeks.
Queensland Police have said they are aware of the existing warrant against Rush and are in contact with his legal team.
The Bali Nine were arrested in April 2005 on drug smuggling charges for trying to smuggle 8.6 kilos of heroin out of Denpasar airport in April 2005. Since then, they have spent more than nineteen years in filthy prison cells.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a top-secret deal with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in which the surviving members were pardoned.
The five men are not allowed to return to Indonesia for life.
Bali Nine member Scott Rush (pictured arriving in Darwin on Sunday) will not be able to return to Queensland due to an outstanding arrest warrant
Smugglers Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen were pardoned by the Indonesian government for their drug smuggling charges
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said neither Rush nor Czugaj, who also lives in the state, would receive any help from his government in returning home.
“The importation of medicines has terrible consequences on both sides, in both countries, and this was an incredibly sad and tragic story,” Crisafulli said.
‘What I hope happens as a result of this is that it reinforces the message to a new generation of younger people, who may not have even heard of this case, that there is a zero tolerance approach to drugs.
“If by highlighting this case and the consequences of decisions made many years ago, even one person can be prevented from being put at risk and destroying his life and possibly thousands of other lives, then there will be a glimmer of good that comes from a truly tragic situation. situation.’
The outstanding warrants against Rush relate to his alleged involvement in stealing money from the Commonwealth Bank in 2005.
A police spokeswoman said officers were in contact with his legal team.
“Queensland Police are aware of warrants for the arrest of a 39-year-old man in connection with outstanding cases and are in contact with his legal representation,” she said.
“For privacy and operational reasons it is inappropriate to comment further on the matter.”
Rush’s legal representatives are in contact with Queensland police over his alleged involvement in stealing money from the Commonwealth Bank in 2005
Ironically, it was Lee Rush, Scott Rush’s father, who contacted the Australian Federal Police requesting that his son be stopped from leaving Australia, desperate to prevent him from becoming involved in any drug activity in 2005.
The AFP forwarded that information to Indonesian authorities, who attacked the group and arrested them at the airport.
Rush’s lawyer claimed in 2005 that the AFP had abandoned promises to stop the group from leaving Australia, instead flying them to a country they knew might execute the smugglers.
In subsequent arrests at Bali’s Denpasar airport and other locations in Indonesia, the plot was foiled and leaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death. Both were executed by firing squad in April 2015.
Rush was originally sentenced to life in prison, but later appealed the sentence to have his sentence reduced to twenty years.
Rush’s father, Lee, is the person who tipped off the AFP that his son would try to smuggle drugs out of Bali, leading to the Bali Nine being captured (Scott Rush and Lee Rush pictured)
Czugaj returned to Brisbane on an overnight Qantas flight from Darwin, landing in Queensland at 5.30am on Friday.
He was accompanied by a team of AFP officers and refused to speak to the media upon arrival.
His father was seen leaving his Beerwah home at 12.30pm on his way to Brisbane Airport and it is understood Czugaj returned home with him later that evening.
Meanwhile, Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen reportedly arrived at Gate 10 at Melbourne Airport at 6.50am on Friday where they were greeted by a small group of family members.
Neither commented to the waiting media.
Martin Stephens also arrived in Sydney the same day.
Normandy, 38, is expected to move into a waterfront mansion in Torquay, a popular tourist town known for its surfing beaches.
The $4 million, two-story home has four bedrooms and is just steps from Cozy Corner, a beach popular with tourists and young families.
Other surviving members of the Bali Nine all returned home on Friday, including Matthew Norman (pictured), who is moving into a $4 million home in Melbourne
Mr Albanese said surviving members of the Bali Nine had paid “a serious price” for their crimes.
‘It’s time for the Bali Five to come home. They committed a serious crime. They paid a serious price… [As did] their families… They had paid a significant price for the crime they committed,” he said on Friday.
“It’s time for them to come home and I’m glad that happened.”
A statement released on behalf of the men said they were “relieved and happy” to be back home on Sunday.
“In both Australia and Indonesia, DFAT has provided professional and sustained support at senior level, prison visits and personal assistance for many years,” the statement said.
‘The men and their families will always be grateful.
‘They look forward to eventually reintegrating into and contributing to society.
“The welfare of the men is a priority, they will need time and support, and we hope and trust that our media and community will take this into account.”