INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFPImage caption
Renae Lawrence was jailed in 2006 for attempting to traffic heroin to Australia
An Australian woman has become the first member of the "Bali Nine" drug smuggling ring to be released from jail in Indonesia.The
high-profile case began in 2005 when Indonesia caught nine Australians trying to smuggle heroin out of Bali.Renae Lawrence, 41, was freed on
Wednesday after spending almost 13 years in prison
She may be the only Bali Nine member ever to be released.The two ringleaders were executed in 2015, sparking a row with Australia.Lawrence's
initial life sentence was cut to 20 years on appeal, then later reduced further in small increments.She left Bali's Bangli prison to a media
throng and was taken to an airport to board a plane to Australia.Image copyrightReutersImage caption
Lawrence was met by
a media crowd as she left the prison
She arrived in Brisbane on Thursday to another press pack, lightly pushing one
She did not give a statement.Lawrence faces the possibility of prosecution in Australia over an alleged high-speed car chase in New South
However, police have not yet acted on two outstanding arrest warrants.Who are the Bali NineLawrence was arrested at Bali's Denpasar Airport
in 2005 with 2.7kg of drugs strapped to her body
Eight Australian men were also apprehended over the plot to smuggle a total of 8.3kg of heroin into their home nation.Image copyrightGetty
ImagesImage caption
Bali Nine members (clockwise from top left) Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen,
Renae Lawrence, Andrew Chan, Martin Stephen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen
Under Indonesia's tough drug
laws, ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were given death sentences on conviction in 2006
Life terms were handed to Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush and Martin Stephens
Chan and Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015, despite repeated pleas by Australia for clemency
The executions raised deep diplomatic tensions
Australia opposes the death penalty but deals heavily with Indonesia on security, trade and other matters.Nguyen died of cancer in an
Indonesian hospital earlier this year.Why was Lawrence freedThe other Bali Nine members also attempted to have their sentences reduced, but
ultimately only Lawrence was successful
It is unclear why.Since 2009, Lawrence has had additional cuts to her sentence at the discretion of Indonesian authorities
The tradition is granted to some prisoners on national and religious holidays.The other Bali Nine members are ineligible for such reductions
because they are serving life sentences.Speaking to Australian media on Monday, Norman said he wished Lawrence "the best of luck"."She has
done what she needs to do to get out," he said."For me, I'm still here with a life sentence and I'm still doing all that I can to better
I still have hope that my sentence will come down."
