Freed heroin smuggler Renae Lawrence begs for the remaining Bali Nine prisoners to be released from jail in Indonesia before they 'lose hope'
- Lawrence and eight others were caught moving 8.3kg of heroin from Indonesia
- Ms Lawrence was sentenced to 20 years behind bars and was released in 2018
- The two ringleaders were executed and the other six were given life sentences
Convicted drug trafficker Renae Lawrence has pleaded for the remaining five Bali Nine prisoners to have their sentences reduced, coinciding with an official visit to Australia by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Ms Lawrence, who was released in 2018, told reporters in Canberra on Sunday, that if their sentences could not be reduced, she was asking that a prisoner exchange with Australia be considered.
'These humane actions will in some small part bring our nations closer together,' she said in her first public comments since her release.
Bali Nine member Renae Lawrence speaks during a press conference at the Pavilion Hotel in Canberra, Sunday, February 9
Australian 'Bali nine' alleged heroin traffickers (left to right) Myuran Syukumaran,,Andrew Chan, Si Yi Chen, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Scott Anthony Rush in Bali, December 2, 2005
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In April 2005, Ms Lawrence was caught with eight others trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia to Australia.
Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015.
Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens were sentenced to life imprisonment, and Ms Lawrence to an original 20-year sentence.
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died of cancer in an Indonesian hospital in 2018.
In April 2005, Ms Lawrence (left) was caught with eight others, including Michael Czuga (right) trying to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia to Australia
Scott Rush aged 19 from Brsibane in a holding cell at Bali Police Headquarters
She concedes it would be very hard for President Widodo to meet her demands given many people in Indonesia are against it.
But she said the president can give 'them a second chance, like the same I got'.
'It is a big ask but I think its time we sort of helped them,' she said.
Matthew Norman sits between Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen and Si Yi Chen of Sydney in a Denpasar District Courtroom for their sentencing hearing on February 15, 2006 in Denpasar, Indonesia
Two of nine Australian drug traffickers Michael Czugaj (left) and Scott Rush (right) learning Indonesian at Bali Police Headquarters
She said it was like a death sentence for the remaining five.
'We all did something stupid, we all regret it, but everybody deserves a second chance,' she said,
'If this doesn't happen, they have got no hope, they'll lose hope and the end will be devastating.'
She said if she could meet Mr Widodo during his visit she would say 'sorry'.
She thinks Prime Minister Scott Morrison should push to get something done and believes there is a good opportunity to have talks about it.
Mr Widodo landed in Canberra on Saturday night ahead of the signing of a free-trade agreement with Australia on Monday, when he will also address parliament.
Ringleaders Andrew Chan (centre) and Myuran Sukumaran (left) were executed in 2015. Martin Stephens (right) was sentenced to life imprisonment
