Bali Nine member Matthew Norman has been arrested in Sydney just weeks after returning to Australia.
Norman has been charged over an alleged car theft that occurred nearly two decades ago, before his failed drug smuggling mission to Indonesia.
He turned himself in at the Waverly Police Department on Monday after discovering officers had forgotten about the alleged crime, police said. Daily Telegraph.
He was put back behind bars when police refused him bail, although he appeared in court later on Monday and Magistrate Stephen Barlow granted him bail.
Police allege he and Bali Nine colleague Renae Lawrence stole a white Ford Laser hatchback from Gosford in March 2005.
The pair are said to have gone on a joyride that ended when police stopped them with road pins.
Norman had to appear in court for the alleged crime in 2005, but was released on bail and left the country for his drug smuggling trip to Indonesia.
His new assignment comes after he makes a secret pilgrimage to his mother’s grave.
Norman has been charged over an alleged car theft that occurred nearly two decades ago, before his failed drug smuggling mission to Indonesia
Since his release, Norman has lived in the $4 million home of a Christian family in Torquay, on the Great Ocean Road south of Melbourne, and attends a local church
Norman’s mother Robyn never saw her son released from prison before she tragically died in January 2024, while he was still serving nearly two decades for heroin trafficking.
But after his sudden release from Bali’s infamous Kerobokan prison last month, one of the first things Norman, 38, did on his return to Australia was visit her grave.
Since his release, he has lived in a $4 million house in Torquay, on the Great Ocean Road south of Melbourne, and attends a local church.
The property is owned by Christian couple Ann and Alan Wilkins, who offered it to Norman after developing a close relationship while he was in prison.
Norman’s Indonesian wife Anita, who has joined him in rebuilding his life in his home country, has revealed how he has tried to re-establish himself as a free man.
“Thank you to all our dear friends who continue to pray for this miracle,” she posted on Facebook.
‘Rejoice, happiness. Visited the grave of his mother and his father and his father and sisters, uncles and cousins.’
Norman was sentenced to death in 2006 after he was caught trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin from Bali. In 2008, the sentence was reduced to life in prison.
His Indonesian wife Anita, who is rebuilding his life in his home country with Matthew Norman (pictured together), has revealed how he has tried to live life as a free man again.
Norman, along with Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen, were all released from prison in Indonesia last month after being jailed nearly two decades ago.
They were transferred to Australia after the federal government struck a deal with Indonesia after weeks of negotiations during a top-secret mission.
The development came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested the transfer during a meeting with new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the APEC summit in November.
President Subianto agreed to release the prisoners on humanitarian grounds.