Bali Nine’s Renae Lawrence reveals her mixed emotions about release, hopes for life in Australia
THE Bali Nine’s Renae Lawrence has revealed her mixed emotions about her impending freedom as she spoke of what she hopes to do upon her return to Australia.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
EXCLUSIVE
BALI Nine heroin courier Renae Lawrence has told of her mixed emotions at being freed from jail and returning to Australia.
Lawrence, in an exclusive interview with News Corporation at her Bali jail this week, says she is nervous, happy, sad, confused and emotional about her impending freedom.
She hopes to get a job in Australia upon her release but is not sure what she will do yet.
Lawrence is due to be released from Bali’s Bangli jail in November, after serving 13 years and six months for her role in the 2005 heroin trafficking operation.
MORE: Final moment of Bali Nine’s Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran
MORE: Australians behind bars in Indonesia revealed
MORE: Where the AFP went wrong in Bali Nine arrest
Speaking this week during a traditional Balinese card game competition in her jail, to celebrate Indonesia’s upcoming Independence Day, Lawrence said her mixed emotions stem from the fact the rest of the Bali Nine remain locked up on life sentences.
And three have died — Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were executed by firing squad in 2015 and Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died earlier this year after battling cancer.
Asked how she was feeling about walking free, Lawrence said she was nervous. “Yes, emotional, mixed feelings, happy, confused, sad, all (of them),” Lawrence said.
She said she was sad because three of the group have lost their lives and the other five will remain in jail when she leaves.
“What about the others? Only I will be free. The others aren’t free,” she said.
They have all been sentenced to life in jail, with no prospect of release or remissions, and have so far been unsuccessful in having their sentences commuted to 20 years or less.
Lawrence was the only member of the Bali Nine to receive a sentence less than life. She was given 20 years and with yearly remissions and sentence cuts for good behaviour her sentence expired in May this year. She was however unable to pay the $100,000 fine and has opted to remain in jail for an extra six months.
Lawrence said she plans to work in Australia but says it is not easy for an ex-prisoner to get a job.
“For ex prisoners (in Australia) it’s not easy. Different to Indonesia. When they get out of prison they could directly get a job. In Australia, it’s difficult because we already have the status of prisoner. If the owner of the company is a kind person and can accept us but that person rarely exists,” Lawrence said.
MORE: Bali Nine smuggler’s powerful letter to Australians
MORE: How lies and arrogance earned Bali 9 kingpins the death sentence
The Bangli prison governor, Diding Alpian, praised Lawrence, saying she is a block leader at the jail and helps manage the block and inmates.
Lawrence laughed about losing at this week’s card games in the jail. The traditional Balinese game was held as a competition for prisoners.
“The Ceki tournament is part of our attempt to adopt local wisdom. I am very proud to be a leader here so I should uphold the Balinese local wisdom. The Ceki tournament challenges prisoners to think, train their brain and also as therapy to refresh their mind,” Mr Alpian said.
Lawrence has also been supervising prisoners who make Christmas decorations in the jail for sale.
