From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This list of Australians imprisoned or executed abroad includes those cases where:
the person was arrested and charged with or convicted of notable crimes whilst abroad.
the person is an otherwise notable person in Australia.
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Jock Palfreeman
Sydney, New South Wales
Murder and wounding
December 2007
Paroled in September 2019
Sentenced to 20 years' jail.[ 2]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Francis James
Sydney, New South Wales
None (accused of espionage)
4 November 1969
16 January 1973
Australian publisher, detained without trial until deportation.[ 4]
Stern Hu
Melbourne, Victoria
Stealing commercial secrets and receiving bribes
5 July 2009
July 2018
Australian iron ore enterprise businessman. Sentenced to 10 years' jail.[ 5]
Kalynda Davis
Sydney, New South Wales
No conviction
8 November 2014[ 6]
9 December 2014
Arrested for allegedly smuggling 30kg of Crystal Meth and faced execution if convicted.[ 6]
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop intervened and negotiated Davis' release.[ 7]
No conviction – returned to Australia free.[ 8]
Henry Chin
Sydney, New South Wales
Convicted of trying to send 270 grams of methamphetamine to Australia
May 2004
Sentenced to death in 2005. The sentence was suspended for two years. Current fate is unknown.[ 9]
Karm Gilespie
Ballarat, Victoria
Smuggling 7.5 kg of methamphetamine out of China
2013
Death sentence announced on 10 June by Guangzhou District Court after having been missing for 7 years[ 10]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Cassandra Sainsbury
Adelaide, South Australia
Drug trafficking (cocaine)
11 April 2017
16 April 2020
Sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment.[ 11] Paroled after 3 years; remained in Colombia for 23 months and deported.
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Peter Greste
Brisbane , Queensland
Using unlicensed equipment to broadcast false information to defame and destabilise Egypt
29 December 2013
1 February 2015 (deported)
23 June 2014: Sentenced to seven years' jail.[ 12]
1 January 2015: Court of Cassation announced retrial.
1 February 2015: Deported to Australia to face prison or trial in his home country. (Australia not uphold either).
29 August 2015: Egyptian retrial sentenced Greste in absentia to another three years. Sentence avoided because he did not return to Egypt.
If full sentences served, Greste would have been incarcerated until December 2023.
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Schapelle Corby
Gold Coast, Queensland
Drug trafficking (cannabis )
8 October 2004
10 February 2014
Sentenced in 2005 to 20 years.
Sentence reduced on appeal in 2005 to 15 years.
Sentence increased on further appeal in 2005 to 20 years.[ 15]
Released from Kerobokan Prison on Monday 10 February 2014 after being granted parole on Friday 7 February 2014. Of her original 20-year sentence, Corby only served 9 years and 259 days.[ 16]
Andrew Chan
Enfield, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Executed
Sentenced to death on 14 February 2006.
Executed by firing squad on 29 April 2015.[ 17]
Si Yi Chen
Doonside, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 February 2006.[ 17]
Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006.[ 18]
Sentence increased to the death penalty on 6 September 2006.
Sentence reduced to life imprisonment on 15 March 2008.
Michael Czugaj
Oxley, Queensland
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Sentenced to life imprisonment on 14 February 2006.[ 17]
Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006.[ 18]
Sentence increased to life on 6 September 2006.
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen
Wellington Point, Queensland
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Died 9 May 2018
Sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 February 2006.[ 17]
Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006.[ 18]
Sentence increased to the death penalty on 6 September 2006.
Sentence reduced to life imprisonment on 15 March 2008.[ 19]
Died from stomach cancer on 9 May 2018
Matthew Norman
Quakers Hill, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 February 2006.[ 17]
Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006.[ 18]
Sentence increased to the death penalty on 6 September 2006.
Sentence reduced to life imprisonment in March 2008.[ 19]
Scott Rush
Chelmer, Queensland
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Sentenced to life imprisonment on 13 February 2006.[ 17]
Sentence increased to the death penalty on 6 September 2006.
Sentence reduced to life imprisonment upon 11 May 2011 on appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court.
Martin Stephens
Towradgi, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Sentenced to life imprisonment on 14 February 2006.[ 17]
Myuran Sukumaran
Auburn, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
Executed
Sentenced to death on 14 February 2006.
Executed by firing squad on 29 April 2015.[ 17]
Renae Lawrence
Newcastle, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
17 April 2005
21 November 2018
Sentenced to life imprisonment on 13 February 2006.[ 17]
Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006.[ 18]
Released and deported on 21 November 2018
Michelle Leslie
Adelaide, South Australia
Possession of ecstasy tablets
21 August 2005
19 November 2005
Controversially declared herself a Muslim during her imprisonment.[ 20]
It was alleged that some of her lawyers distributed bribes to secure her freedom.[ 21]
Michael Sacatides
Wentworthville, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (methamphetamine )
1 October 2010
Sentenced in 2011 to 18 years in Bali's Kerobokan Jail.[ 22]
A prisoner exchange agreement is currently being negotiated between Australia and Indonesia .[ 23]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Denis Michael Rohan
Sydney
Arson attack
23 August 1969
14 May 1974
Found to be insane, and hospitalised in a mental institution. Deported from Israel 14 May 1974, and reportedly died in 1995 under psychiatric care.
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Tallaal Adrey
Auburn, New South Wales
Weapons possession Weapons trading Ammunition possession Ammunition trading
14 February 2005
2009
Sentenced to 4 years.[ 24] [ 25]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Kerry and Kay Danes
Brisbane , Queensland
Tax evasion Embezzlement Destruction of evidence (pardoned and absolved)
23 December 2000
6 October 2001
Sentenced to seven years prison each
The Australian government intervened
Provisionally released 6 October 2001
The Danes agreed to pay court-ordered $AUD1.1 million in fines and compensation in four equal instalments
Presidential pardon 6 November 2001[ 26]
Pardon absolved the Danes convictions
Both returned to Australia free
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Kevin Barlow (a dual British citizen)[ 28]
Perth, Western Australia
Drug trafficking (heroin)
9 November 1983
Executed
Executed by hanging on 7 July 1986.[ 29] [ 30]
Brian Chambers
Perth, Western Australia
Drug trafficking (heroin)
9 November 1983
Executed
Executed by hanging on 7 July 1986.[ 29] [ 30]
Michael McAuliffe
Sydney, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
29 June 1985
Executed
Executed by hanging in June 1993.[ 31]
Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto
Sydney, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (methamphetamine)
December 2014
26 November 2019[ 32]
Acquitted by the Malaysian High Court and ordered immediate release.
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
John Short
Barmera, South Australia
Circulation of Christian literature at a Buddhist temple
16 February 2014
3 March 2014
Was originally arrested for missionary work in North Korea.
He subsequently apologised on television.
Released 3 March 2014 and was deported.
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Peter Scully
Melbourne, Victoria
Human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and torture of children
20 February 2015
Sentenced to life in prison in 2018, and received an additional 129 years for a second conviction in 2022.
South African Republic (Transvaal)[ edit ]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Harry Harbord 'Breaker' Morant
Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia
War crimes
23 October 1901
Executed
Executed by firing squad on 27 February 1902.
Peter Handcock
New South Wales
War crimes
23 October 1901
Executed
Executed by firing squad on 27 February 1902.
George Witton
Victoria, Australia
War crimes
23 October 1901
11 August 1904
Sentenced to death by firing squad, which was commuted to life in prison. Released early due to public and political pressure in England and Australia.
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Reg Spiers
Adelaide, South Australia
Drug trafficking (heroin)
1 December 1984
1987
Sentenced to death, acquitted on appeal.[ 35]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Warren Fellows
Sydney, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
11 October 1978
11 January 1990
Sentenced to life, received a pardon.[ 36]
Paul Hayward
Sydney, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
11 October 1978
7 April 1989
Sentenced to 30 years, received a pardon.[ 36]
Nola Blake
Botany, New South Wales
Drug trafficking (heroin)
January 1987
March 1998
Originally sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison. Received a Royal Pardon .
Holly Deane-Johns
Western Australia
Drug trafficking (heroin)
August 2000
December 2012
Sentenced to 31 years. Transferred to Bandyup Women's Prison in Australia in late 2007.[ 37]
Robert Halliwell
Sydney
Drug trafficking (heroin)
August 2000
Arrested with Deane-Johns whilst attempting to post heroin to Australia. Police later found another 110 grams of heroin in Halliwell's apartment. Sentenced to life imprisonment.[ 37]
A prisoner exchange agreement exists between Australia and Thailand allowing prisoner transfers.[ 38]
United Arab Emirates [ edit ]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Samandar Hout Kilani
Afghanistan / Australia
Robbery
July 2011
September 2013
3 year prison sentence in Dubai's Central Jail.[ 39]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Rolf Harris
Bassendean, Western Australia
Indecent assault
August 2013
19 May 2017
Sentenced to 5 years and 9 months' imprisonment on 4 July 2014.
Julian Assange
Townsville , Queensland
Skipping bail
11 April 2019
26 June 2024
Sentenced to 50 weeks' imprisonment on 1 May 2019
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Jean-Philippe Wispelaere
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Espionage
15 May 1999
2012
Former Defence Intelligence Organisation officer who sought to sell secrets to a foreign power.[ 40] [ 41]
Mamdouh Habib
Sydney, New South Wales
none
5 October 2001
28 January 2005
Arrested in 2001, Habib was interrogated by Pakistani and US CIA agents before being transferred to Egypt, then to a black site in Afghanistan, where he was further interrogated under torture. Transferred to Guantanamo Bay detention camp in 2002. Released without charge in 2005.[ 42]
David Hicks
Adelaide, South Australia
Unlawful combatant
November 2001
1 January 2008
Prisoner of the US Government held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on unlawful combatant charges.[ 43] Returned to Australia on 20 May 2007 to serve the remaining nine months of his sentence in Yatala Labour Prison , Adelaide.[ 44]
Russell Moore[ a]
Melbourne, Victoria
Murder Robbery Sexual assault
1988
Deceased
Sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1991 for the murder, robbery and sexual assault of Barbara Barber in Melbourne, Florida .
Died in custody at the Apalachee Correctional Institution on 2 June 2021.[ 45]
Prisoner
From
Convictions
Arrested
Release date
Notes
Phạm Trung Dũng
Vietnam / Australia
Drug trafficking (heroin)
May 2013
Sentenced to death on 27 June 2014.[ 46]
^ Also known by adoptive name, James Hudson Savage.
^ Stephen Sutton website Archived 29 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 22 February 2006
^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/jock-palfreeman-and-michelle-leslie-are-just-two-of-many-aussie-tourists-jailed-overseas-for-crimes-they-say-they-did-not-commit/story-fni0ffnk-1226843547601 , 4 March 2014
^ Australian teen jailed for 13 years over heroin Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine , The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 2005
^ "Alfred Francis James (1918–1992)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography: Francis James . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 2 October 2021 .
^ "Foreign Minister slams Chinese as Stern Hu gets 10-year jail sentence" . Sydney Morning Herald . Australia. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2015 .
^ a b https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/kalynda-daviss-new-life-after-china-drug-arrest/news-story/8a2eff34e75363eadf5b0aa26dd0e750 [bare URL ]
^ "Kalynda Davis home after being released by China without charge" . www.news.com.au . Retrieved 15 December 2014 .[title missing ]
^ "ice smuggling allegations, allowed to return home without charge" . ABC News . Australia. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014 .
^ "Four Australians have been put to death for drug offences overseas in recent times" . SBS News article . Australia. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015 .
^ Singhal, Eryk Bagshaw, Rachael Dexter, Pallavi (14 June 2020). "Australian actor's journey to a Chinese death sentence" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 29 September 2020 . {{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )
^ "Cassie Sainsbury sentenced to six years in Colombian jail for trafficking cocaine" . ABC News . November 2017.
^ "Greste another victim of bloody-minded regime" . ABC News . 23 June 2014.
^ Australian home after Fiji gay sex conviction overturned , The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 August 2005
^ Little help, no protest for Victorian jailed in Fiji , The Age, 20 August 2005
^ 'I ask for you... to find me innocent' , The Age, 29 April 2005
^ "Freed Corby still to show her face" .
^ a b c d e f g h i Bali Nine all lodge appeals , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 20 February 2006.
^ a b c d e Some Bali nine jail terms cut ABC News Online, 27 April 2006
^ a b "Bali three have death sentences commuted - CNN.com" . www.cnn.com . Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2022 .
^ "Drug-accused model says she's a Muslim" . The Australian. 29 August 2005.
^ Forbes, Mark (27 November 2005). "Lost funds add to bribe speculation" . Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2007 . and Forbes, Mark (17 June 2006). "Leslie's confidant lifts the veil" . Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2007 .
^ "Australian Man Michael Sacatides Gets 18 Years Jail In Bali For Importing 17kg Of Methamphetamine" .
^ Govt to consult with Indonesia over death sentences , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 7.30 Report, 14 February 2006
^ Australian Man in Kuwaiti Jail Says Govt Has Failed Him Archived 4 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine , Caged Prisoners, 18 May 2005
^ Foreign Prisoner Support Service, Tallaal Adrey Campaign Archived 26 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine
^ Kerry and Kay Danes pardoned in Laos Archived 17 July 2005 at the Wayback Machine , Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 6 November 2001
^ Garrett, John (1994). "Unintentionally a Missionary: Carl Heine, an Australian in the Marshall Islands" (PDF) . South Pacific Journal of Mission Studies (11). South Pacific Association for Mission Studies: 16–20.
^ "Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow executed in Malaysia" . TheGuardian.com . 7 July 1986.
^ a b Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow executed in Malaysia , The Guardian, 7 July 1986.
^ a b They died at dawn Archived 27 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine , NineMSN , 30 November 2005
^ The toughest penalty , The Daily Telegraph, 15 February 2006
^ Doherty, Ben (26 November 2019). "Sydney woman Maria Exposto has drug conviction and death sentence overturned in Malaysia" . The Guardian .
^ "Christchurch mosque shooting trial delayed for Ramadan" . Stuff . 12 September 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019 .
^ Lithgow, Shirley (2000). "Robert Charles Page (1920–1945)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography .
^ "Spiers has to wait for drug case sentencing" . The Sydney Morning Herald . 19 January 1988. Retrieved 6 March 2015 .
^ a b The Damage Done , Pan Macmillan Australia, 1997, ISBN 1-84018-275-X
^ a b Heroin addicts escape Thai death sentence , The Age, 5 July 2003
^ Asian jails not very good: Downer , The Age, 22 April 2005
^ Steve Pratt
^ Australian spy sentenced to jail in the U.S.
^ Bucci, Nino; Inman, Michael (29 October 2012). "Spy was identified through psychic, author says" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 15 December 2016 . The 41-year-old was released earlier this year
^ Australian official saw Habib tortured: report
^ Hicks' time in custody ignored by Pentagon
^ Celebrity Hicks back in lockup
^ Pearson, Erin (3 June 2021). "Indigenous man dies in US prison following 30-year fight to come home" . smh.com.au . Retrieved 21 June 2023 .
^ "Australian man Pham Trung Dung sentenced to death for heroin in Vietnam" . Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2014 .