Bali Nine member Matthew Norman set for Torquay move after sudden prison release

A member of the infamous Bali Nine has arrived in Melbourne and is set to move into a multimillion-dollar Torquay beachside property after his release from prison.

A member of the infamous Bali Nine is set to move into a multimillion-dollar Torquay beachside property after serving almost two decades behind bars for drug smuggling.

Matthew Norman, 38, arrived in Melbourne on Friday morning and is expected to take up residence at a prime waterfront home overlooking one of Victoria’s most well-known beaches.

He boarded a flight from Darwin to Melbourne at midnight, arriving shortly after 6.30am.

Matthew Norman is seen arriving in Melbourne after spending over 20 years at the infamous Kerobokan Prison in Bali on Friday 20 December 2024. Photo The Australian: Luis Enrique Ascui

Norman, along with Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen, were being held at the Howard Springs Accommodation Village near Darwin following the formal signing of a secret prisoner transfer deal last week between the Australian and Indonesian governments.

The five have received medical care and other support at the federally run facility, but will soon be free to reunite with family and friends with no legal conditions moving forward for their detention.

Norman’s planned new digs on The Esplanade will be a far cry from the notorious Kerobokan Prison he has spent the last 19 years in after being caught trying to smuggle heroin out of Denpasar in 2005.

Bali Nine member Matthew Norman at an event at Kerobokan Prison Bali. He is reportedly heading for Torquay. Picture – Amanda Hodge.

The two-storey, four-bedroom home sits above the popular Cosy Corner beach in the Surf Coast town and has a current market value of more than $4m.

It’s understood he formed a close relationship with Ann and Alan Wilkins while in prison, who are both involved in the Torquay Christian Fellowship and own the property.

The couple had a strong bond with the ringleader of the Bali Nine, Andrew Chan, who was executed in 2015, mentoring and regularly visiting him inside the jail and helping him with his faith.

Mr Wilkins did not answer specific questions regarding Norman or his possible living arrangements when contacted.

“It’s been an interesting journey,” he said.

“I can’t really make much more of a comment at this stage.”

Cosy Corner in Torquay, right across the road from where freed Bali Nine member Matthew Norman is believed to be moving in.

The Torquay Christian Fellowship has links to the famous Ablett footballing family, with Natasha Ablett’s funeral held at the church in 2017.

Both Gary Jnr and his famous father have both spoken openly about their strong faith.

Norman was sentenced to death in 2006 for his involvement in trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin out of Bali, only to have it reduced to life in prison in 2008.

Bali Nine members Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens, and Michael Czugaj. Picture: Supplied

The youngest member of the Bali Nine, he has been behind bars since he was 18.

He married an Indonesian woman at the Kerobokan jail in 2014.

It is understood she and her young daughter will be able to travel to Australia through normal visa application processes in the future.

One condition of release for Norman and the other four members is that they are not permitted to travel back to Indonesia.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke last week signed the deal that brought the prisoner transfer into effect, as did his Indonesian counterpart, Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

Speaking to Indonesian corrections officers after his release, Norman said: “I am overwhelmed. It’s happening so fast, I am out of words to say, I am speechless. I am happy I am going home.”

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Originally published as Bali Nine member Matthew Norman set for Torquay move after sudden prison release