Two Bali Nine members speak for the first time since their transfer was announced

Two of the remaining Bali Nine members are in high spirits ahead of their imminent return home and could even be seen smiling and laughing with prison guards. See the video and photos.

Two of the five remaining Bali Nine prisoners have spoken for the first time since news of their transfer to Australia was announced.

It was anticipated details of their transfer would be discussed on Friday when members of Indonesia’s house of representatives visited Kerobokan prison, where the Bali Nine are staying, however this did not transpire.

Instead, officials toured the facility where convicts Matthew Normal and Si Yi Chen were seen for the first time since Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese requested their transfer in a discussion with Indonesia’s new president Prabowo Subianto at last month’s APEC conference in Peru.

Prisoner governor Kristyo Nugroho called over Mr Norman and asked the prisoner if he’d been behind bars since 18 years old, to which Mr Norman said that he had, and that he was now 38 years old.

“You speak Indonesian so well. Like a local,” Nugroho said.

Mr Norman smiled and said “yes”, before adding in Indonesian, “Suksma mewali” (Anytime).

Matthew Norman was in good spirits as officials toured Kerobokan prison, where he is staying, on Friday. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Matthew Norman spoke with prison officials on Friday ahead of his imminent transfer to Australia. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Matthew Norman at a prison workshop. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Nugroho then asked if Mr Norman could speak Balinese, to which the Australian replied: “not yet”.

The official then jokingly said he should eat more traditional food at bebek tepi sawah, a popular restaurant of fried duck in Bali.

“Matthew, how are you feeling,” a journalist then asked. “Good,” Mr Norman replied.

Meanwhile, Si Yi Chen was also spotted very briefly behind bars in another prison workshop.

When asked about whether his return to Australia was good news, he smiled briefly and nodded his head.

On the transfer deal, Indonesian officials did however say they support the prisoners’ transfer to their home country.

“We strongly agree and support this move,” Willy Aditya said on Friday.

The Chairman of Commission XIII overseeing human rights, immigration and terrorism said details of the transfer were currently being discussed.

“This is a good political will that should be welcomed,” he said.

“Although we don’t have the regulation for transferring prisoners, they can still be transferred. We don’t release them. They are just transferred to their country to continue their prison term.

“Regarding this, we are hoping Australia will reciprocate. We are now negotiating with Australia.”

Indonesian officials visit Kerobokan prison in Denpasar, Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

News broke that the five remaining Bali Nine prisoners will be sent to Australia on November 23 following a request from Mr Albanese.

Details have been scarce until this week where Indonesian officials hinted that the Bali Nine could be sent to Australia just before Christmas.

Indonesia's Minister for Law Yusril Ihza Mahendra held a press conference with Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke this week. Picture: AFP

Speaking in Bali overnight on Thursday, Indonesia’s minister for law Yusril Ihza Mahendra said his country had submitted a draft proposal for “practical arrangements” to facilitate the return of the five men and was awaiting Australia’s response.

“Australia … said to me, they will discuss this draft internally, and they will inform us as soon as possible,” he said.

“And if Australian government agreed or needs some modification or amendment, we are ready to discuss.”

Mr Yusril said Indonesia was seeking the option of reciprocity in the future.

He said the Bali Nine deal was purely based on the “good intention and discretion” of Mr Prabowo, who was only inaugurated as leader in October.

“(The proposal) is not based on written law, but (hopefully) we can settle this matter with negotiation between two countries,” Mr Yusril said.

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

The convicts – Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj – were arrested in April 2005 and convicted and sentenced to various punishments ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty for attempting to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin out of Indonesia and back to Australia.

Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death and executed on 29 April, 2015.

Tan Duc Than Nguyen died in a Jakarta hospital in 2018, while the only woman of the group Renae Lawrence, was released in 2018 after her life sentence was successfully reduced to 20 years on appeal.