List of Australians imprisoned or executed abroad explained

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.

China

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
	Sydney, New South Wales	None (accused of espionage)	4 November 1969	16 January 1973	Australian publisher, detained without trial until deportation.^[4]
	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. 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 2020 by Guangzhou District Court after having been missing for 7 years.^[10]

Indonesia

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
		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]
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	Executed	Sentenced to death on 14 February 2006. Executed by firing squad on 29 April 2015.^[17]
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	15 December 2024	Sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 February 2006. 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.
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	15 December 2024	Sentenced to life imprisonment on 14 February 2006. Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006. Sentence increased to life on 6 September 2006.
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	Died 9 May 2018	Sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 February 2006. Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006. 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
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	15 December 2024	Sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 February 2006. Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006. Sentence increased to the death penalty on 6 September 2006. Sentence reduced to life imprisonment in March 2008.
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	15 December 2024	Sentenced to life imprisonment on 13 February 2006. 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.
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	15 December 2024	Sentenced to life imprisonment on 14 February 2006.
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	Executed	Sentenced to death on 14 February 2006. Executed by firing squad on 29 April 2015.
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	17 April 2005	21 November 2018	Sentenced to life imprisonment on 13 February 2006. Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006. Released and deported on 21 November 2018
		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]
		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]

Malaysia

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
Kevin Barlow (a dual British citizen)^[31]	Perth, Western Australia	Drug trafficking (heroin)	9 November 1983	Executed	Hanging	Executed by hanging on 7 July 1986.^[32] ^[33]
	Perth, Western Australia	Drug trafficking (heroin)	9 November 1983	Executed	Executed by hanging on 7 July 1986.
	Sydney, New South Wales	Drug trafficking (heroin)	29 June 1985	Executed	Executed by hanging in June 1993.^[34]
	Sydney, New South Wales	Drug trafficking (methamphetamine)	December 2014	26 November 2019^[35]	Acquitted by the Malaysian High Court and ordered immediate release.

Singapore

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
Robert Page and nine others		Perfidy and espionage (Operation Rimau)	December 1944 – January 1945	Executed	Executed by beheading on 7 July 1945.^[37]
	Melbourne, Victoria	Drug trafficking (heroin)	12 December 2002	Executed	Executed by hanging on 2 December 2005.

South African Republic (Transvaal)

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
	Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia	War crimes	23 October 1901	Executed	Executed by firing squad on 27 February 1902.
	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.

Thailand

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
	Sydney, New South Wales	Drug trafficking (heroin)	11 October 1978	11 January 1990	Sentenced to life, received a pardon.
	Sydney, New South Wales	Drug trafficking (heroin)	11 October 1978	7 April 1989	Sentenced to 30 years, received a pardon.^[39]
		Drug trafficking (heroin)	January 1987	March 1998	Originally sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison. Received a Royal Pardon.
Holly Deane-Johns		Drug trafficking (heroin)	August 2000	December 2012	Sentenced to 31 years. Transferred to Bandyup Women's Prison in Australia in late 2007.^[40]
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.

A prisoner exchange agreement exists between Australia and Thailand allowing prisoner transfers.^[41]

United Kingdom

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
		Indecent assault	August 2013	19 May 2017	Sentenced to 5 years and 9 months' imprisonment on 4 July 2014.
	Townsville, Queensland	Skipping bail	11 April 2019	26 June 2024	Sentenced to 50 weeks' imprisonment on 1 May 2019

United States

Prisoner	From	Convictions	Arrested	Release date	Notes
	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory	Espionage	15 May 1999	2012	Former Defence Intelligence Organisation officer who sought to sell secrets to a foreign power.^[43] ^[44]
	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.^[45]
David Hicks	Adelaide, South Australia		November 2001	1 January 2008	Prisoner of the US Government held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on unlawful combatant charges.^[46] Returned to Australia on 20 May 2007 to serve the remaining nine months of his sentence in Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide.^[47]
Russell Moore	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.^[48]

See also

• Anti-Australian sentiment
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
• Foreign relations of Australia
• List of Australian criminals
• Use of death penalty worldwide

Notes and References

1. http://stephensutton.com/ Stephen Sutton website
2. News: 4 March 2014 . Jock Palfreeman and Michelle Leslie are just two of many Aussie tourists jailed overseas for crimes they say they did not commit . https://archive.today/20150215155602/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 . dead . 15 February 2015 . heraldsun.com.au .
3. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=86807 Australian teen jailed for 13 years over heroin
4. Book: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/james-alfred-francis-16270. Australian Dictionary of Biography: Francis James. Alfred Francis James (1918–1992) . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . 2 October 2021.
5. News: Foreign Minister slams Chinese as Stern Hu gets 10-year jail sentence. 14 February 2015. Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. 30 March 2010.
6. News: Sutton . Candace . 16 June 2020 . Kalynda Davis’s new life after China drug arrest . news.com.au . 5 January 2025.
7. Web site: Kalynda Davis home after being released by China without charge . www.news.com.au . 15 December 2014.
8. News: ice smuggling allegations, allowed to return home without charge. 14 December 2014. ABC News. Australia. 9 December 2014.
9. News: Four Australians have been put to death for drug offences overseas in recent times. 15 February 2015. SBS News article. Australia. 23 January 2015.
10. Web site: Singhal. Eryk Bagshaw, Rachael Dexter, Pallavi. 2020-06-14. Australian actor's journey to a Chinese death sentence. 2020-09-29. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
11. News: Cassie Sainsbury sentenced to six years in Colombian jail for trafficking cocaine. ABC News. November 2017.
12. News: Greste another victim of bloody-minded regime. ABC News. 23 June 2014.
13. https://www.smh.com.au/news/world/australian-home-after-fiji-gay-sex-conviction-overturned/2005/08/28/1125167549911.html Australian home after Fiji gay sex conviction overturned
14. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/little-help-no-protest-for-victorian-jailed-in-fiji/2005/08/19/1124435143870.html Little help, no protest for Victorian jailed in Fiji
15. http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Corbys-statement-in-full/2005/04/28/1114635690096.html 'I ask for you... to find me innocent'
16. Web site: Freed Corby still to show her face.
17. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1574259.htm Bali Nine all lodge appeals
18. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200604/s1625021.htm Some Bali nine jail terms cut
19. Web site: Bali three have death sentences commuted - CNN.com . www.cnn.com . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080315030222/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/06/indonesia.australian.smugglers.ap/ . 15 March 2008 . dead.
20. News: Drug-accused model says she's a Muslim. 29 August 2005. The Australian.
21. News: Mark. Forbes. Lost funds add to bribe speculation. Sydney Morning Herald. 27 November 2005. 14 November 2007. and News: Mark. Forbes. Leslie's confidant lifts the veil. Sydney Morning Herald. 17 June 2006. 14 November 2007.
22. News: Australian Man Michael Sacatides Gets 18 Years Jail In Bali For Importing 17kg Of Methamphetamine.
23. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1570016.htm Govt to consult with Indonesia over death sentences
24. Rohan and the Road to the Apocalypse . Stan Correy. 10 February 2020 . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Radio National . 23 August 2009.
25. Web site: Apocalypse Now: The political legacy of Denis Michael Rohan. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 August 2019.
26. Web site: City of Mount Gambier . Rohan, Michael Denis; Carinya Cremation . 7 October 2024.
27. http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=7356 Australian Man in Kuwaiti Jail Says Govt Has Failed Him
28. http://www.usp.com.au/fpss/case-tallaal_adrey.html Foreign Prisoner Support Service, Tallaal Adrey Campaign
29. http://www.dfat.gov.au/media/releases/foreign/2001/fa165_01.html Kerry and Kay Danes pardoned in Laos
30. John. Garrett. 1994. Unintentionally a Missionary: Carl Heine, an Australian in the Marshall Islands. South Pacific Journal of Mission Studies. 16–20. 11. South Pacific Association for Mission Studies.
31. Web site: Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow executed in Malaysia. TheGuardian.com. 7 July 1986.
32. https://www.theguardian.com/fromthearchive/story/0,12269,1255112,00.html Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow executed in Malaysia
33. http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/site/articleIDs/D2F8187A95C0A103CA2570C200058C76 They died at dawn
34. http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18148810-5001021,00.html The toughest penalty
35. News: Doherty . Ben . Sydney woman Maria Exposto has drug conviction and death sentence overturned in Malaysia . . 26 November 2019.
36. Web site: Christchurch mosque shooting trial delayed for Ramadan. Stuff. 12 September 2019. en. 25 December 2019.
37. Web site: Robert Charles Page (1920–1945). Shirley. Lithgow. Australian Dictionary of Biography. 2000. 15.
38. News: Spiers has to wait for drug case sentencing . The Sydney Morning Herald . 19 January 1988 . 6 March 2015.
39. [The Damage Done (book)|The Damage Done]
40. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/04/1057179158696.html Heroin addicts escape Thai death sentence
41. http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Asian-jails-not-very-good-Downer/2005/04/22/1114028529767.html Asian jails not very good: Downer
42. [Steve Pratt]
43. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s257518.htm Australian spy sentenced to jail in the U.S.
44. News: Spy was identified through psychic, author says . Bucci . Nino . 29 October 2012 . The Sydney Morning Herald . Inman . Michael . The 41-year-old was released earlier this year . 15 December 2016.
45. https://www.smh.com.au/news/Global-Terrorism/Habib-details-torture-claim-in-court-documents/2005/01/06/1104832208379.html Australian official saw Habib tortured: report
46. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/hicks-time-in-custody-ignored-by-pentagon/2005/10/20/1129775901895.html Hicks' time in custody ignored by Pentagon
47. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/terrorist-hicks-back-in-adelaide/2007/05/20/1179601217219.html Celebrity Hicks back in lockup
48. Web site: Pearson . Erin . 3 June 2021 . Indigenous man dies in US prison following 30-year fight to come home . 21 June 2023 . smh.com.au.
49. Web site: Australian man Pham Trung Dung sentenced to death for heroin in Vietnam . 28 June 2014 . 9 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509145940/http://www.news.com.au/world/australian-man-pham-trung-dung-sentenced-to-death-for-heroin-in-vietnam/story-fndir2ev-1226969548721 . dead .