Matthew Norman, a 18year old Australian man, was convicted of smuggling heroin out of Indonesia. He is now 20. Matthew was arrested at a hotel in Bali with 3 other men. In a suitcase, not belonging to Matthew police discovered 350gms of heroin and materials that may be used to strap heroin to a persons body. The heroin police found in the hotel was matched through forensic tests to heroin found on 3 others as they tried to board flights to Australia.
Matthew did not take drugs, supply drugs or encourage people to take drugs. Matthew was convicted and charged with drug trafficking. The Supreme Court sentenced Matthew to serve 20years imprisonment, he appealed his sentence and the Indonesian Government overturned his sentence to the death penalty. For a NON-VIOLENT crime!!! He remains in his dirty prison cell in a 3rd world country where clean water is a luxury and rice is the diet.Matthew has never harmed anyone or had any intention to harm anyone – by drugs or anything else. Matthew has never supplied drugs or encouraged people to use drugs or forced people to take them. He has expressed he is very sorry for this trouble. HE DOES NOT DESERVE TO DIE!
March 7 2008 - Matthews death penalty has been overturned to life imprisonment. -----------------------------------------------
Appeal from Matthew: 20 June 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Matthew James Norman and I was born on the 17th of September 1986 in Brisbane, Australia. I am currently 21 years old and detained on death row in the Republic of Indonesia. I am writing to personally express my deep remorse for my actions that were wrong and violated the laws of Indonesia. I wish to appeal for mercy.I was arrested by Indonesian authorities on 17 April 2005 at the Melasti Bungalows on Bali's Kuta Beach in a room with a suitcase containing 350 grams of heroin. I was taken to the court on 15 February 2006 and was given a life sentence which was reduced on appeal to 20 years. On 06 September 2006 however, my sentence was upgraded to the death penalty.I fully accept the Indonesian authorities have every right to punish me because I broke the law and in doing so, I have brought shame on my country, my family and upon myself.Since I have been on death row, I have learned a great deal about myself. I realise now that my actions don't just affect me. I realise that I was foolish and did not really think about the consequences that I would face. Admittedly, I was stupid to believe that I wouldn't get caught breaking the law but at the time, I was at a point in my life where I didn't care too much about myself or anything else. I must however, take responsibility for my actions but I hope that the Indonesian authorities will give me a second chance to prove that I can turn my life around.I want to thank the Indonesian Prison Guards at Kerobokan for caring about me and helping me to become a better person. I have learned many things from them that I took for granted before, like my freedom and what I might have achieved in my life had I made different choices. Even if I am executed, I am still grateful that they treated me with human kindness.I wish to ask, most respectfully that you accept this personal expression of profound remorse, and allow my life to be spared and that I might have an opportunity to one-day return to Australia where I can be closer to my family and where I can participate in rehabilitation programs to help me become a better person and an example to other young people, to deter them from making the same mistakes I've made. I am deeply, deeply sorry to the Indonesian people and hope that they might forgive me of my foolishness.Respectfully,
Matthew James Norman [Aus]
----------------------------------------------- Matthew Norman is living a nightmare - he needs to stay strong and be supported. PLEASE contribute and help Matthew Normans family travel to Bali to give Matt the support and love of his family.
Please message or email
[email protected] for deposit details.
--------------------------------------- We can help during this dreadful ordeal by donating to help Matts family travel to Bali to support him and provide neccasities and luxuries - Please message this page or email Melinda at
[email protected] for details of how to do this
PLEASE send care packages and letters
LPM Kerobokan
Matthew Norman [Australian]
Jl. Tangkuban Perahu
Kerobokan, Denpasar 80117
Bali, INDONESIAAnd please give prayers and positive thoughts to Matthew and his family.-----------------------------------------------
I'm Melinda. This page is ran with Matthew Normans consent and knowledge. I'll definetly pass any messages or mail sent here. Thanks for all your support - Matt apprecciates it. God Bless you all!
