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. Argentina PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes Stephen John Sutton Sydney, New South Wales Drug trafficking 4 February 2003 November 2008 Sentenced to 11 years. Released from prison in November 2008.Stephen Sutton website . Retrieved 22 February 2006
Bulgaria PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes Jock Palfreeman Sydney, New South Wales Murder and wounding December 2007 Paroled in September 2019 Sentenced to 20 years' jail.
Cambodia PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesGordon Vuong Campsie, New South Wales Drug trafficking (heroin) January 2005 2018 Sentenced to 13 years in May 2005.Australian teen jailed for 13 years over heroin , The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 2005
China PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes Francis James Sydney, New South Wales None (accused of espionage) 4 November 1969 16 January 1973 Australian publisher, detained without trial until deportation. Stern Hu China Stealing commercial secrets and receiving bribes 5 July 2009 July 2018Australian iron ore enterprise businessman. Sentenced to 10 years' jail. Kalynda Davis Sydney, New South Wales No conviction 8 November 2014 9 December 2014 Henry Chin 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.Karm GilespieBallarat, VictoriaSmuggling 7.5 kg of methamphetamine out of China2013Death sentence announced on 10 June 2020 by Guangzhou District Court after having been missing for 7 years.
Colombia
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesCassandra SainsburyAdelaide, South AustraliaDrug trafficking (cocaine) 11 April 201716 April 2020Sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment. Paroled after 3 years; remained in Colombia for 23 months and deported.
Egypt PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes Peter Greste Brisbane, Queensland Using unlicensed equipment to broadcast false information to defame and destabilise Egypt 29 December 2013 1 February 2015 (deported) 23 June 2014: Sentenced to seven years' jail. 1 January 2015: Court of Cassation announced retrial. 1 February 2015: Deported to Australia to face prison or trial in his home country. (Australia not uphold either). 29 August 2015: Egyptian retrial sentenced Greste in absentia to another three years. Sentence avoided because he did not return to Egypt. If full sentences served, Greste would have been incarcerated until December 2023.
Fiji
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesThomas McCosker Warrnambool, Victoria Sodomy 3 April 2005 28 August 2005 Sentenced to 2 years' jail for sodomy. Conviction overturned on constitutional grounds on 26 August 2005.Australian home after Fiji gay sex conviction overturned, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 August 2005Little help, no protest for Victorian jailed in Fiji, The Age, 20 August 2005
Indonesia PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesSchapelle Corby Gold Coast, Queensland 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.'I ask for you... to find me innocent', The Age, 29 April 2005 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.Andrew Chan Enfield, New South Wales Drug trafficking (heroin) 17 April 2005 Executed Sentenced to death on 14 February 2006. Executed by firing squad on 29 April 2015.Bali Nine all lodge appeals, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 20 February 2006.Si Yi Chen Doonside, New South Wales 15 December 2024Sentenced to life imprisonment on 15 February 2006. Sentence reduced to 20 years on 27 April 2006.Some Bali nine jail terms cut ABC News Online, 27 April 2006 Sentence increased to the death penalty on 6 September 2006. Sentence reduced to life imprisonment on 15 March 2008.Michael Czugaj Oxley, Queensland 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.Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen Wellington Point, Queensland 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. Died from stomach cancer on 9 May 2018Matthew Norman Quakers Hill, New South Wales 15 December 2024Sentenced 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.Scott Rush Chelmer, Queensland 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.Martin Stephens Towradgi, New South Wales Sentenced to life imprisonment on 14 February 2006.Myuran Sukumaran Auburn, New South Wales Executed Sentenced to death on 14 February 2006. Executed by firing squad on 29 April 2015.Renae Lawrence Newcastle, New South Wales 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 2018Michelle Leslie Adelaide, South Australia Possession of ecstasy tablets 21 August 2005 19 November 2005 Controversially declared herself a Muslim during her imprisonment. It was alleged that some of her lawyers distributed bribes to secure her freedom. and Michael Sacatides Wentworthville, New South Wales Drug trafficking (methamphetamine) 1 October 2010 Sentenced in 2011 to 18 years in Bali's Kerobokan Jail.
A prisoner exchange agreement is currently being negotiated between Australia and Indonesia.Govt to consult with Indonesia over death sentences, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 7.30 Report, 14 February 2006
Israel
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesDenis 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, he was reported to have died in 1995 under psychiatric care, but later found alive and interviewed by the ABC in 2009, before eventually dying in 2013.
Kuwait
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesTallaal Adrey Auburn, New South Wales Weapons possessionWeapons tradingAmmunition possessionAmmunition trading 14 February 2005 2009 Sentenced to 4 years.Australian Man in Kuwaiti Jail Says Govt Has Failed Him , Caged Prisoners, 18 May 2005Foreign Prisoner Support Service, Tallaal Adrey Campaign
Laos
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesKerry and Kay Danes Brisbane, Queensland Tax evasion EmbezzlementDestruction of evidence(pardoned and absolved) 23 December 2000 6 October 2001 Sentenced to seven years prison each The Australian government intervened Provisionally released 6 October 2001 The Danes agreed to pay court-ordered $AUD1.1 million in fines and compensation in four equal instalments Presidential pardon 6 November 2001Kerry and Kay Danes pardoned in Laos , Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 6 November 2001 Pardon absolved the Danes convictions Both returned to Australia free
Marshall Islands PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesCarl Heine Singleton, New South Wales No trial 1942 Executed Executed by beheading in April 1944.
Malaysia PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesKevin Barlow (a dual British citizen)Perth, Western Australia Drug trafficking (heroin) 9 November 1983 Executed Executed by hanging on 7 July 1986.Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow executed in Malaysia, The Guardian, 7 July 1986.They died at dawn , NineMSN, 30 November 2005Brian Chambers Michael McAuliffe Sydney, New South Wales 29 June 1985 Executed by hanging in June 1993.The toughest penalty, The Daily Telegraph, 15 February 2006Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto Drug trafficking (methamphetamine) December 2014 26 November 2019 Acquitted by the Malaysian High Court and ordered immediate release.
New Zealand PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesBrenton Tarrant Grafton, New South Wales MurderAttempted murderTerrorism 15 March 2019 Trial date listed for 2 June 2020. Sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on 27 August 2020
North Korea
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesJohn Short Barmera, South Australia Circulation of Christian literature at a Buddhist temple 16 February 2014 3 March 2014 Was originally arrested for missionary work in North Korea. He subsequently apologised on television. Released 3 March 2014 and was deported.
Philippines
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesPeter 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.
Singapore
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesRobert Page and nine others Various – members of Z Special Unit Perfidy and espionage (Operation Rimau) December 1944 – January 1945 ExecutedExecuted by beheading on 7 July 1945.Van Tuong Nguyen Melbourne, Victoria Drug trafficking (heroin) 12 December 2002 Executed by hanging on 2 December 2005.
South African Republic (Transvaal)
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesHarry Harbord 'Breaker' Morant Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia War crimes 23 October 1901ExecutedExecuted by firing squad on 27 February 1902.Peter Handcock New South Wales George WittonVictoria, AustraliaWar crimes11 August 1904Sentenced to death by firing squad, which was commuted to life in prison. Released early due to public and political pressure in England and Australia.
Sri Lanka
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesReg Spiers Adelaide, South Australia Drug trafficking (heroin) 1 December 1984 1987Sentenced to death, acquitted on appeal.
Thailand
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesWarren Fellows Sydney, New South Wales Drug trafficking (heroin) 11 October 1978 11 January 1990Sentenced to life, received a pardon.Paul Hayward 7 April 1989 Sentenced to 30 years, received a pardon.The Damage Done, Pan Macmillan Australia, 1997, Nola Blake Botany, New South Wales January 1987 March 1998 Originally sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison. Received a Royal Pardon.Holly Deane-Johns Western Australia August 2000 December 2012 Sentenced to 31 years. Transferred to Bandyup Women's Prison in Australia in late 2007.Heroin addicts escape Thai death sentence, The Age, 5 July 2003Robert Halliwell Sydney 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.Asian jails not very good: Downer, The Age, 22 April 2005
United Arab Emirates
PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotesSamandar Hout Kilani Afghanistan / Australia Robbery July 2011September 2013 3 year prison sentence in Dubai's Central Jail.Steve Pratt
United Kingdom
Prisoner From Convictions Arrested Release date NotesRolf 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 26 June 2024 Sentenced to 50 weeks' imprisonment on 1 May 2019
United States