This list of Australians imprisoned or executed abroad includes those cases where:
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen John Sutton | Sydney, New South Wales | Drug trafficking | 4 February 2003 | November 2008 | Sentenced to 11 years. Released from prison in November 2008.[1] |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gordon Vuong | Campsie, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | January 2005 | 2018 | Sentenced to 13 years in May 2005.[3] |
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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.[4] |
Kalynda Davis | Sydney, New South Wales | No conviction | 8 November 2014[5] | 9 December 2014 | |
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.[8] | |
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[9] |
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.[10] 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) |
|
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas McCosker | Warrnambool, Victoria | Sodomy | 3 April 2005 | 28 August 2005 |
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schapelle Corby | Gold Coast, Queensland | Drug trafficking (cannabis) | 8 October 2004 | 10 February 2014 |
|
Andrew Chan | Enfield, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 | Executed | |
Si Yi Chen | Doonside, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 | ||
Michael Czugaj | Oxley, Queensland | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 | ||
Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen | Wellington Point, Queensland | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 | Died 9 May 2018 | |
Matthew Norman | Quakers Hill, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 | ||
Scott Rush | Chelmer, Queensland | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 |
| |
Martin Stephens | Towradgi, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 |
| |
Myuran Sukumaran | Auburn, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 | Executed |
|
Renae Lawrence | Newcastle, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 17 April 2005 | 21 November 2018 | |
Michelle Leslie | Adelaide, South Australia | Possession of ecstasy tablets | 21 August 2005 | 19 November 2005 | |
Michael Sacatides | Wentworthville, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (methamphetamine) | 1 October 2010 |
|
A prisoner exchange agreement is currently being negotiated between Australia and Indonesia.[22]
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.[23][24] |
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 |
|
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carl Heine | Singleton, New South Wales | No trial | 1942 | Executed | Executed by beheading in April 1944.[26] |
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kevin Barlow (a dual British citizen)[27] |
Perth, Western Australia | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 9 November 1983 | Executed | Executed by hanging on 7 July 1986.[28][29] |
Brian Chambers | Perth, Western Australia | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 9 November 1983 | Executed | Executed by hanging on 7 July 1986.[28][29] |
Michael McAuliffe | Sydney, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 29 June 1985 | Executed | Executed by hanging in June 1993.[30] |
Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto | Sydney, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (methamphetamine) | December 2014 | 26 November 2019[31] | Acquitted by the Malaysian High Court and ordered immediate release. |
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brenton Tarrant | Grafton, New South Wales | Murder
Attempted murder Terrorism |
15 March 2019 | Trial date listed for 2 June 2020. Sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on 27 August 2020[32] |
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 |
|
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. |
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Robert Page and nine others | Various – members of Z Special Unit | Perfidy and espionage (Operation Rimau) | December 1944 – January 1945 | Executed | Executed by beheading on 7 July 1945.[33] |
Van Tuong Nguyen | Melbourne, Victoria | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 12 December 2002 | Executed | Executed by hanging on 2 December 2005. |
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.[34] |
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.[35] |
Paul Hayward | Sydney, New South Wales | Drug trafficking (heroin) | 11 October 1978 | 7 April 1989 | Sentenced to 30 years, received a pardon.[35] |
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.[36] |
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.[36] |
A prisoner exchange agreement exists between Australia and Thailand allowing prisoner transfers.[37]
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.[38] |
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 | 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.[39][40] |
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.[41] |
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.[42] Returned to Australia on 20 May 2007 to serve the remaining nine months of his sentence in Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide.[43] |
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.[44] |
Prisoner | From | Convictions | Arrested | Release date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phạm Trung Dũng | Vietnam / Australia | Drug trafficking (heroin) | May 2013 | Sentenced to death on 27 June 2014.[45] |