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Bali Nine’s Renae Lawrence avoids another spell behind bars

Renae Lawrence reported to police to answer charges filed against her before the 2005 drug bust in Bali.

Renae Lawrence reported to police to answer charges filed against her before the 2005 drug bust in Bali. Photo: AAP

Bali Nine drug smuggler Renae Lawrence has attended a NSW Police station over outstanding warrants from more than a decade ago.

Lawrence, 41, arrived in Australia on Thursday, after serving 13 years in an Indonesian prison for attempting to smuggle heroin into Bali.

Lawrence walked into Newcastle’s Waratah Police station about 2pm on Friday for a pre-arranged meeting.

NSW Police said a 41-year-old woman was served with outstanding warrants and granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Court on December 6.

It is understood the warrants are for outstanding charges Lawrence faces in relation to an alleged car theft in Sydney in 2005, and an alleged high-speed police chase that followed.

On Thursday, Lawrence refused to answer reporters’ questions in English as she arrived at Brisbane airport.

However, she said in Indonesian that she was grateful to the Indonesian Government for allowing her to walk free.

Lawrence was arrested in April 2005 when she was caught at Bali Airport with 2.7 kilograms of heroin strapped to her body.

She failed to front court in Gosford in the same month she was arrested in Bali.

Lawrence was convicted of drug smuggling and sentenced to life in prison, but that was later reduced to 20 years on appeal.

Her sentence was further reduced due to good behaviour.

She is the only member of the Bali Nine to have walked free from jail.

Two of her fellow accused, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015.

-ABC

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