“I have been living in Bali for 10 years. I’m half Balinese. I’m happy to participate in Independence Day celebrations,” said Australian inmate Eric Bevan Gillet, who was sentenced to two years in prison for fraud.

Having lived in Bali for several years, Gillet said it was not his first time taking part in an Independence Day celebration. “I have attended such events many times,” said the Australian, who received one-month remission on Independence Day.

Two Bangladeshis, Rashedul Islam and Habibur Rahman, were among foreign inmates attending the flag-raising ceremony at Kerobokan. Sentenced to eight months in prison for using fake passports, Islam and Rahman had been given one-and-a-half months remission each, with Independence Day marking their release.  

"I am so happy. I will go back to my country and run my cell phone business there," Habibur said after the ceremony.

Kerobokan warden Slamet Prihantara said it was not compulsory for foreign inmates to attend the ceremony. "We never force them to attend this event," he said.

Fourteen foreign inmates in penitentiaries across Bali received sentence remissions of between one month and six months on Independence Day. (ebf)

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