Heather Mack has handed over her two-year-old Stella to Oshar Putu Melody Suartama as per prison rules

CONVICTED killer Heather Mack sobbed as she was forced to say goodbye to her two-year-old daughter Stella as she left Kerobokan prison today.

HEATHER Mack sobbed as she said goodbye today to her two-year-old daughter Stella who left Kerobokan prison, the only home she has known for her short life.

Mack insisted on carrying Stella to the very last jail exit before handing her to Australian Balinese woman Oshar Putu Melody Suartama, who will now care for the little girl in Bali until her mother is released from jail.

Heather Mack prepares to hand daughter Stella over to Oshar Putu Melody Suartama in Kerobokan Jail today. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Before the handover a small birthday party was held for Stella, who turned two today. There was cake and candles and presents, including a little doll with blonde pigtails in pink ribbons.

Under prison regulations children older than two are not allowed to live in jail.

Mack is serving a 10-year sentence for her role in the grisly murder of her mother with Stella’s father Tommy Schaefer.

There were lots of tears as both inmate parents farewelled their little girl. Heather cried as the handover ceremony proceeded.

Australian woman Oshar Putu Melody Suartama (l) with her lawyer Noor Hilyin (c) and Heather Mack's lawyer Yulius Benyamin Seran (r) arrive at Kerobokan Jail for the hand over of Stella. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Stella’s father Tommy Schaefer was not there for the handover and has told News Corporation he does not agree with the care arrangements. Schaefer only arrived at the end, when it was time to say goodbye.

But earlier today he was granted two hours with Stella.

Ms Suartama carried Stella from the jail with the little girl’s face covered by a scarf.

A tearful Mack ahead of the handover. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Ms Suartama herself also tried to shield her face from the media and made no comment as she was bundled into a waiting car.

The handover comes as Stella’s paternal grandmother in the US, Kia Walker, launched a failed eleventh-hour court bid to secure custody of her granddaughter. She is now appealing.

Oshar Putu Melody Suartama and Mack prepare for the standover of Stella. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Ms Suartama, who is married to a Balinese man and whose father is Balinese and mother Australian, has two sons of her own aged about 11 and seven.

She befriended Mack in 2014 when Mack and her boyfriend were ­detained in Denpasar police station as suspects in the grisly murder of Mack’s wealthy mother, Sheila Von Wiese-Mack, in a five-star resort in Bali.

At the time, Mack was pregnant and Ms Suartama, who was at the police station to help foreigners with translations, saw her sleeping on the floor.

Stella is covered as she leaves Kerobokan Jail. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Yulius Benyamin Seran, the lawyer for Mack and Stella, told News Corp Australia Ms Suartama started bringing Mack milk and supplies.

Ms Suartama also supported Mack throughout her trial in the Denpasar District Court.

An agreement has now been made that Ms Suartama will care fulltime for Stella, who will live at her home in Bali, and that she will bring the little girl to visit her mother at Kerobokan prison at least once a week.

Tommy Schaefer during his trial. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Schaefer is serving an 18-year sentence for bashing Mack’s mother to death with a glass bowl inside her room at the St Regis resort in Nusa Dua.

The couple then stuffed Ms Von Wiese-Mack’s body into a suitcase and deposited it in the boot of a taxi.

Mack has not been a model prisoner. Last Christmas she was denied remissions because she uploaded video and photos from the jail.

And she has been notoriously active on Instagram, posting photographs of her seemingly charmed life ­behind bars, including images that showed her drinking and partying.