‘Agonising’: Parents of Bali Nine prisoner react to Aussie return

Scott Rush’s parents have revealed the shocking way they first heard about their son’s possible extradition back to Australia. The Bali Nine member has been incarcerated since 2006.

The parents of Bali Nine member Scott Rush have endured a “slow death” since their son was jailed for life in Indonesia, a close friend says, as he revealed they learned of plans to extradite him to Australia through media reports.

Rush, 38, could be extradited from Bangli Narcotics Jail, in Bali’s north, back to Australia after a request from Anthony Albanese to transfer the five remaining prisoners, who have been serving life sentences since 2006.

Rush’s parents Lee and Christine were among many blindsided by news of a potential extradition — which could occur as soon as next month — from media reports on Friday.

The governor of Bali’s notorious Kerobokan Prison, which held the bulk of the Bali Nine prisoners as well as Schapelle Corby before her release, also said on Monday that he learned of the potential move from media reports.

Townsville bishop Tim Harris, who has provided pastoral care to the Rush family for more than a decade, told this masthead the Rush family is quietly optimistic about their son’s potential release, but they won’t hold their breath.

Scott Rush arrives at court in Bali in 2006 Bali, Indonesia, to appeal his life sentence. Picture: AP Photo/ Firdia Lisnawati

Townsville Bishop Tim Harris said Scott Rish’s parents have suffered since their son was sentenced to life in an Indonesian prison.

“Obviously (they have) been agonising about all this and it’s something they didn’t realise was coming until it was reported by the press,’ Bishop Harris said.

“It has been touch and go for a while for Scott because in 2006 he was jailed for life, he appealed and got the death penalty, then he got a life sentence again so it’s been a rollercoaster.

“In a way, it has been a slow death for them in the sense that their son has been incarcerated for so long.”

He called them on Friday to discuss the reports of a potential return to Australia.

“Of course they’re hopeful, but remaining very respectful to the Indonesian justice system,” he said.

“It’s no use if Australians carry on about this, we’ve got to be very careful about the way we carry on and how the arrangements between our government and the Indonesian government are carried out.”

Rush was one of nine Australians found guilty of trying to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin out of Bali in 2005. He was sentenced to life behind bars the following year, but that was upgraded to the death penalty on appeal.

Rush and Renae Lawerence in holding cells after they were sentenced to life in prison in 2006.

The sentence was downgraded back to life imprisonment following an Indonesian Supreme Court review in 2011.

Martin Stephens, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, and Si Yi Chen were also found guilty and serving life sentences in Indonesia. Renae Lawrence was released and sent back to Australia in 2018.

The two ringleaders of the Bali Nine — Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran — were executed in 2015.

The governor of Bali’s Kerobokan prison Kristyo Nugroho, where Norman and Chen are held, said he also found out about the potential extradition plans through media reports.

“There is no information yet from Jakarta,” he told media.

“Even me, I haven’t known about it. We haven’t got any information about it.”

A prison guard said he would support any plans to return the Bali Nine to Australia because “they’re kind and good people” who help new foreign prisoners adjust to life behind bars.

“They are like role models here, every new foreign prisoner is always guided by them about what they should do and what they should not do,” he said.

“They have done many good things here.”

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the Australian government was providing consular assistance to the families.