Media release
6 March 2008
Sentence of the Melasti three
Australian Officials in Jakarta have received a copy of the Indonesian Supreme Court’s decision to commute the death sentences of the three Australians, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, and Si Yi Chen, to life imprisonment.
The document has been verified by the Supreme Court.
This is very welcome news for the young men known as the Melasti three.
In respect to the remaining members of the Bali 9, once all Indonesian legal processes have been exhausted, if any remain subject to the death penalty, the Australian Government will seek clemency from the Indonesian Government on their behalf.
The Australian Government will treat each case on an individual basis.
This has been foreshadowed a number of times publicly and with the Indonesian Government, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during his meeting with President Yudhoyono in Bali on 11 December 2007.
The Government will continue to monitor developments closely and provide consular assistance to the Australians and their families as appropriate.
Media inquiries
- Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500
- Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555