Detained for drugs: Australians convicted abroad

According to the Australian government, about 1000 Australians are arrested abroad every year for a range of offenses and 250 Australians are in prisons overseas at any given time.

Australian Renae Lawrence at Denpasar District Court in Bali

Bali Nine drug courier Renae Lawrence. (AAP)

Although convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby has been released on parole, many Australians are still doing time for drug charges in different countries. The following is a list of Australians who have been convicted of drug offences and have either served their time, are still in jail, or have been given the death sentence.

Argentina:

Stephen John Sutton, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking.

Arrested: Feb 4, 2003.

Sentenced to 11 years, released in 2008.

Bolivia:

Alana Miles, Queensland

Yet to be charged, detained on suspected drug trafficking offenses on March 18, 2013

Cambodia:

Gordon Vuong, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: January 2005.

Sentenced to 13 years - set to be released in 2018.

China:

Henry Chhin

Convicted of trafficking amphetamines.

Recieved suspended death sentence in 2005.

Indonesia:

convicted2_140210_Getty.jpg
Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby in jail in Indonesia (Getty).


Schapelle Corby, Queensland

Convicted of drug trafficking (cannabis).

Arrested: 8 October 2004.

Released on parole February 10, 2014.

Michelle Leslie, SA

Convicted of possessing ecstasy tablets.

Arrested: 21 August 2005.

Released: 19 November 2005.

Michael Sacatides, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking (methamphetamine).

Arrested: 1 October 2010.

Sentenced in 2011 to 18 years in jail.

The Bali Nine

The Bali Nine were arrested on April 17, 2005 and convicted for trafficking heroin. Two of them have been given the death penalty and the rest are in prison for life.

Andrew Chan, NSW

Death penalty.

Myuran Sukumaran, NSW

Death penalty.

Si Yi Chen, NSW

Sentenced to life imprisonment after sentence was reduced from death penalty.

Michael Czugaj, Queensland


Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Queensland

Sentenced to life imprisonment after sentence was reduced from death penalty.
convicted_140210_Getty.jpg
Matthew Norman listens to the proceedings during his sentencing in Indonesia (Getty).
Matthew Norman, NSW

Sentenced to life imprisonment after sentence was reduced from death penalty.

Scott Rush, Queensland

Sentenced to life imprisonment after sentence was reduced from death penalty.

Martin Stephens, NSW

Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Renae Lawrence, NSW

Sentenced to life imprisonment on 13 February 2006 – sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 april, 2006.

Malaysia:

Kevin Barlow, WA

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: 9 November 1983.

Executed July 1986.

Brian Chambers, WA

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: 9 November 1983.

Executed on July 1986.

Michael McAuliffe, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: 29 June 1985.

Executed June 1993.

Mauritius:

Susan Dalziel

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: November 2005

Sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Thailand:

Holly Deane-Johns, WA

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested : August 2000.

Sentenced to 31 years, transferred to Australian prison in 2007 and released in 2012.

Robert Halliwell, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: August 2000.

Sentenced to 31 years in prison.

Warren Fellows, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: October 1978.

Released 11 January 1990 after receiving a pardon.

Nola Blake, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: January 1987.

Sentenced to life, reduced from the death penalty. Later received a royal pardon – released 1998.

Paul Hayward, NSW

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Arrested: 11 October 1978.

Sentenced to 30 years. Received a pardon, released in 1989.

Singapore:

convicted4_140210_Getty.jpg
The funeral service following drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van's execution in Singapore (Getty).


Van Tuong Nguyen, Victoria.

Convicted of drug trafficking (heroin).

Executed December 2005.

 

SOURCE: NSW Council of Council for Civil Liberties and other souces.


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