Michael Czugaj
| Michael Czugaj | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Michael William Czugaj circa 1986 (age 30–31) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Other names | Member of the Bali Nine |
| Occupation | Glazier |
| Criminal penalty | Life |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Conviction(s) | Drug trafficking (2006) |
|
Wanted by
|
Indonesia |
| Partner(s) | |
| Wanted since | 2005 |
| Imprisoned at | Kerobokan Prison, Bali, Indonesia |
| Notes | |
Michael William Czugaj (born ca. 1986), an Australian former glazier from Oxley, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine. In 2005, Czugaj was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar with 1.75 kg (3.9 lb) of heroin concealed on his body. After a criminal trial on 14 February 2006 Czugal was sentenced to life imprisonment. His life sentence was reduced to 20 years imprisonment on appeal on 26 April 2006, but reinstated five months later.
Czugaj was an apprentice glazier, keen surfer, one of eight children born to Polish Australian parents. He left his job in March 2005 and told his family that he was going to Cairns for a holiday. Czugaj's parents were quoted as saying he was a "problem child" but had never been in serious trouble and had no drug history. His father, Steven, said he didn’t think he had a passport:
Following his sentencing, it was revealed that he had earlier led a life of petty crime including train fare evasion, wilful damage, drink-driving and receiving stolen property. It was reported that Czugaj had 14 convictions for offences and was regularly before several Brisbane Magistrates' Courts between 2003 and 2005. Subsequent to the criminal proceedings in Bali, in 2008 Czugaj's older brother, Richard, pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 18 months jail.
According to media reports, Czugaj claimed that his Brisbane friend, Scott Rush, introduced him to Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen whilst socialising in Brisbane. Nguyen offered them both a free holiday to Bali. Czugaj, aged 18, and Rush, aged 19, arrived in Bali on 8 April 2005 and checked into Hotel Aneka, the same hotel used by Indonesian police for their surveillance.
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