Bali Nine’s Renae Lawrence has arrived back in Australia after spending 13 years locked-up in an Indonesian prison.
The convicted drug smuggler, 41, was released from Bangli Prison, Bali, on Wednesday evening after her sentence was reduced for ‘good behaviour’.
She flew out of Indonesia on a Virgin Australia flight which touched down at Brisbane Airport on Thursday morning.
Lawrence, the only member of the notorious gang to be released, did not answer questions from journalists after exiting the airport’s international terminal.
She boarded a bus to the domestic terminal, where she is expected to catch a transfer flight to her hometown Newcastle, New South Wales.
She was arrested at Bali’s main airport in April 2005 with 2.7 kilograms of heroin strapped to her body as part of a failed bid to smuggle a total of eight kilograms of the drug into Australia with a number of other mules – later dubbed the Bali Nine.
Renae Lawrence has spent her first moments of her uncertain future with her mother and step-brother after spending over 13 years locked up in prison
Lawrence touched down at Brisbane Airport about 5am local time on Thursday on a Virgin Australia flight from Bali
The convicted drug smuggler, 41, was released from Bangli Prison, Bali, on Wednesday evening after her sentence was reduced for ‘good behaviour’
The taste of freedom could be short lived as NSW Police have two arrest warrants for Lawrence which have been outstanding since 2005.
One warrant alleges she was involved in a high-speed chase in a stolen car with fellow Bali Nine member Matthew Norman.
Lawrence was photographed waiting with her mother Beverley Waterman, step-brother Allan Waterman and unknown relative in a quiet room at the international airport.
The former prisoner apologised to Fairfax Media when they asked her to speak on her time in jail – claiming she was not ready to share the story.
‘I’m sure, I’m positive,’ she said when asked if she was sure she did not want to be interviewed.
Her mother added to this that speaking to the media ‘always gets misconstrued’.
Lawrence was photographed waiting with her mother Beverley Waterman (right), step-brother Allan Waterman (left) and unknown relative in a quiet room at the international airport
Mrs Waterman (right) told Fairfax Media that speaking to the media ‘always gets misconstrued’
Lawrence, the only member of the notorious gang to be released, hopped on a flight to Brisbane from Bali’s Ngurah Rai international airport at about 9pm local time (midnight AEST)
The third family member, understood to be a cousin, asked that reporters respect the limited amount of time the group have together before flying into an inevitable media storm.
Ngurah Rai Immigration chief Amran Aris said Lawrence had to be deported the moment she had served her time, due to her drug offences.
She was issued a travel document for her travel back to Australia, not a passport.
‘Because of her case, the narcotics, she has been given a life ban,’ he told Fairfax Media.
Lawrence was released at about 5pm on Wednesday evening after officials held a press conference at the prison doors.
Maryoto Sumadi, Justice Ministry chief, spoke in Indonesian before holding up her release papers and saying: ‘She is a free woman’.
Mr Sumadi said Lawrence would be deported and banned from re-entering Indonesia for life.
Upon her return, Lawrence is facing two arrest warrants from NSW Police, which have been outstanding since 2005
Lawrence, 41, spent 13 years and seven months behind bars for her involvement in a trafficking syndicate
Maryoto Sumadi, head of Bali’s justice and human rights office, spoke in Indonesian before holding up her release papers and saying: ‘She is a free woman’
‘We have also conducted a hand over between Bangli and the immigration office in Denpasar,’ he said.
‘Because she is a foreigner, therefore, the person is deemed to be in Indonesia without permission, therefore she needs to be released from prison and into immigration office custody.’
Justice Department officials conducted a health check and said Lawrence was found to be in good health.
At the conclusion of the conference, guards and media flooded the prison door in anticipation for the release of Lawrence.
Lawrence eventually walked from the doors, covered by a heavily armed mobile brigade police.
She wore sunglasses and hung her head as she was swept into a black SUV with dark-tinted windows.
The convicted drug smuggler remained silent and ignored questions journalists shouted at her.
Just before 5pm local time officials addressed the media about Lawrence but she was no where to be seen
Lawrence appeared after the the conference concluded, flooded by guards and wearing sunglasses
The convicted drug smuggler remained silent and ignored questions journalists shouted at her
There was speculation Lawrence would speak at the media conference, ahead of her release.
Bangli jail governor Made Suwendra said Lawrence thanked the staff at the prison as she prepared to leave, the Daily Telegraph reported.
‘She said thank you as she has already been treated well during her time in prison. And also said sorry for any mistake she’s done,’ Mr Suwendra said.
Lawrence had an emotional and teary goodbye as she farewelled her inmates.
‘All the women prisoners took her out from the women’s block and they were hugging and crying,’ Mr Suwendra said.
‘Some of her friends were also crying.’
She hugged her girlfriend Erna and other female prisoners before heading out to freedom.
Police patrolled Bangli Prison ahead of Lawrence’s release on Wednesday afternoon (pictured)
She wore sunglasses and hung her head as she was swept into a black SUV with dark-tinted windows
There was originally speculation Lawrence would speak at a media conference
In a tense video, Lawrence met Bali’s justice ministry chief, Mr Sumadi, moments before her release.
The 41-year-old appeared shaken and nervous while she conversed with the chief before the pair shook hands.
On Wednesday, Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he has ‘no sympathy’ for Lawerence, and suggested she face the full extent of the law.
‘If you commit that kind of offence, there is a heavy penalty to pay, and it doesn’t give you credit when you get back to Australia,’ he told Sky News.
But NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller suggested a deal with Lawrence’s lawyers was more likely than a fresh set of handcuffs on the tarmac.
Lawrence was originally sentenced to life in prison but her sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.
Lawrence was reportedly prescribed anti-depressants by a local doctor to deal with anxiety before the long-awaited release (pictured in car on the way to the airport)
On Wednesday, Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he has ‘no sympathy’ for Lawrence (centre), and suggested she face the full extent of the law
She served 13 years and seven months after numerous reductions for good behaviour.
Lawrence was reportedly prescribed anti-depressants by a local doctor to deal with anxiety before the long-awaited release.
Mr Suwendra praised Lawrence for contributing to prison life in Bangli and being a co-operative inmate.
He hoped Lawrence would be helped to integrate back into life in Australia.
‘Renae Lawrence is in a healthy condition. She seems to be happy, but also a bit nervous,’ Mr Suwendra told AFP.
Renae Lawrence (pictured) a week after her arrest in 2005 – she will fly home from Bali on Wednesday night – but has outstanding criminal offences awaiting her arrival in Australia
Renae Lawrence (pictured) days after her arrest in Bali on April 17, 2005 – she was released from jail on Wednesday
Daily Mail Australia understands Lawrence will be given a few days to ‘settle in’ at her Newcastle home before she responds to the outstanding police charges from over a decade ago.
A court date will likely be set for December in Gosford, on the NSW central coast.
Lawrence is the only Bali Nine member to be released.
Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015 and Tan Duc Thahn Nguyen died of stomach cancer in May earlier this year.
Martin Stephens, 42, Michael Czugaj, 32, Scott Rush, 33, and Si Yi Chen, 33, remain in prison where they are serving life sentences, with little chance of release.
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