The 14-year-old Australian boy, who was charged with drug possession, is returning home.
Source: AP
- Teen imprisoned in Bali�on drug charges due home
- Spent two months imprisoned for cannabis possession
- Indonesia says boy will be welcome back�in Bali
THE 14-year-old Australian schoolboy imprisoned in Bali on drug charges has been moved to the notorious Kerobokan jail for processing, ahead of his release.
He is expected to be free to fly home to Australia tonight.
The schoolboy, from Morriset Park, NSW, has spent two harrowing months behind bars after he was busted buying 3.6g of cannabis from a street dealer in Kuta on October 4.
He spent his last day of captivity with his family at his cell at Jimbaran Immigration Detention Centre as his final release papers were being filed.
Prosecutor I Gusti Putu Atmaja said the boy, who was found guilty and fined the equivalent of 23c on November 25, would be welcomed back to Bali should he choose to return.
"Of course he can come back. He's still young, he can still recover himself," he said.
Watching the developments with close interest was Channel 9's 60 Minutes reporter Allison Langdon, who jetted into Denpasar on Friday to cover his release.
An initial exclusive story deal between Nine and the boy's family had fallen through following widespread publicity.
A senior Nine source yesterday claimed "no deal is in place at this stage".
"The wind has gone out of the sails in light of all that has happened" the source added, pointing to the official end of this year's television ratings period.
Agent Grant Vandenberg, who was acting on behalf of the teenager's family, rejected claims he was "still active" regarding further media negotiations to sell the story.
"I haven't spoken to (the family) in three or four weeks mate," Mr Vandenberg said yesterday.
"I don't know what's going on. All I was doing was simply helping out the family on a personal level, there was never a quid in this for me."
Immigration officials will collect the family from the jail and take them to the immigration office at Denpasar Airport for more paperwork.
Only when that is complete will the boy be free to return to Australia.
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