List of Australians imprisoned or executed abroad


This is a list of current and former Australian citizens whose detention in prisons outside of Australia or execution is noteworthy. The list includes those whose arrests or sentences are considered noteworthy for the following reasons:

Bulgaria

Cambodia

China

Colombia

Egypt

Fiji

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Thomas McCoskerWarrnambool, VictoriaSodomy3 April 200528 August 2005
  • Sentenced to 2 years' jail for sodomy.
  • Conviction overturned on constitutional grounds on 26 August 2005.

Indonesia

A prisoner exchange agreement is currently being negotiated between Australia and Indonesia.

Israel

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Denis Michael RohanSydneyArson23 August 196914 May 1974Found to be insane, and hospitalised in a mental institution. Deported from Israel 14 May 1974, and reportedly died in 1995 under psychiatric care.

Italy

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Laszlo TothMelbourne, VictoriaVandalism21 May 19729 February 1975Vandalised Michelangelo's Pietà statue.

Kuwait

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Tallaal AdreyAuburn, New South Wales*Weapons possession
*Weapons trading
*Ammunition possession
*Ammunition trading		14 February 20052009Sentenced to 4 years.

Laos

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Kerry and Kay DanesBrisbane, QueenslandTax evasion
Embezzlement
Destruction of evidence
23 December 20006 October 2001
  • Sentenced to seven years prison each
  • The Australian government intervened
  • Provisionally released 6 October 2001
  • Presidential pardon 6 November 2001
  • Pardon absolved the Danes convictions
  • Both returned to Australia free

Malaysia

New Zealand

North Korea

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
John ShortBarmera, South AustraliaCirculation of Christian literature at a Buddhist temple16 February 20143 March 2014
  • Was originally arrested for missionary work in North Korea.
  • He subsequently apologized on television.
  • Released 3 March 2014 and was deported.

Singapore

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Van Tuong NguyenMelbourne, VictoriaDrug trafficking 12 December 2002ExecutedExecuted by hanging on 2 December 2005.

South Africa (Limpopo)

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Harry 'Breaker' Harbord MorantQueensland, New South Wales and South AustraliaWar Crimes24 October 1901ExecutedExecuted by firing squad on 27 February 1902.
Peter HandcockNew South WalesWar Crimes24 October 1901ExecutedExecuted by firing squad on 27 February 1902.

Sri Lanka

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Reg SpiersAdelaide, South AustraliaDrug trafficking 1 December 19841987Sentenced to death, acquitted on appeal.

Thailand

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Warren FellowsSydney, New South WalesDrug trafficking 11 October 197811 January 1990Sentenced to life, received a pardon.
Paul HaywardSydney, New South WalesDrug trafficking 11 October 19787 April 1989Sentenced to 30 years, received a pardon.
Nola BlakeBotany, New South WalesDrug trafficking January 1987March 1998Originally sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison. Received a Royal Pardon.
Holly Deane-JohnsWestern AustraliaDrug trafficking August 2000December 2012Sentenced to 31 years. Transferred to Bandyup Women's Prison in Australia in late 2007.
Robert HalliwellSydneyDrug trafficking August 2000Arrested with Deane-Johns whilst attempting to post heroin to Australia. Police later found another 110 grams of heroin in Halliwell's apartment. Sentenced to 31 years.

A prisoner exchange agreement exists between Australia and Thailand allowing prisoner transfers.

United Arab Emirates

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Samandar Hout KilaniAfghanistan / AustraliaRobberyJuly 2011September 20133-year prison sentence in Dubai's Central Jail.

United Kingdom

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Rolf HarrisBassendean, Western AustraliaIndecent assaultAugust 201319 May 2017Sentenced to 5 years and 9 months imprisonment on 4 July 2014.
Julian AssangeTownsville, QueenslandSkipping Bail11 April 2019Sentenced to 50 weeks imprisonment on 1 May 2019

United States

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Jean-Philippe WispelaereCanberra, Australian Capital TerritoryEspionage15 May 19992012Former Defence Intelligence Organisation officer who sought to sell secrets to a foreign power.
Mamdouh HabibSydney, New South Wales5 October 200128 January 2005
David HicksAdelaide, South AustraliaUnlawful combatantNovember 20011 January 2008Prisoner of the US Government held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on unlawful combatant charges. Returned to Australia on 20 May 2007 to serve the remaining nine months of his sentence in Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide.

Vietnam

PrisonerFromConvictionsArrestedRelease dateNotes
Pham Trung DungVietnam / AustraliaDrug trafficking May 2013Sentenced to death on 27 June 2014.