Indonesia Agrees to Transfer Bali Nine Members

Indonesia has agreed to transfer the remaining five members of the Bali Nine, Australians serving life sentences for attempting to smuggle heroin in 2005, back to Australia. This decision comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's negotiations with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the APEC meeting in Peru. The transfer is expected to occur by December, with the prisoners continuing to serve their sentences in Australia. Indonesia also seeks the repatriation of its nationals incarcerated in Australia. The Bali Nine case has been a significant legal and diplomatic issue between the two countries, following the execution of two ringleaders in 2015 and the release of another member in 2018. The agreement reflects a strengthening of diplomatic ties and humanitarian considerations in international prisoner transfers.