A British former soldier who stole £300,000 worth of Bitcoin in a knifepoint raid has been freed early from one of Indonesia's most notorious prisons. Greg Simpson, 39, walked out of Bali's infamous Kerobokan prison yesterday as part of Indonesian Independence Day celebrations.
The disgraced ex-Army reservist served in Afghanistan as a member of the London Regiment before his dramatic fall from grace. He was jailed in 2022 for kidnap and robbery after holding Italian couple Principe Nerini, 40, and Camilla Guadagnuolo hostage at their Seminyak villa in November 2021.
Simpson was part of a four-man gang that stole 5.8 billion Indonesian Rupiahs during the violent raid. His accomplice Nicola Disanto, 34, was also arrested, but two other gang members remain at large.
Presidential pardon amid prison overcrowding
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto granted Simpson's release as authorities seek to reduce the country's huge prison population. A source said: "Simpson's crime was abhorrent but the Indonesian authorities are desperate to cut the huge prison population and foreign nationals are easy to release."
Simpson appeared rejuvenated and healthy as he left Kerobokan prison, which houses 320 inmates and is controlled by violent domestic gangs. He declined to speak with reporters as immigration officials escorted him to a detention facility before his expected deportation to the UK.
Prison governor Hudi Ismono confirmed Simpson's good behaviour during his sentence. "During his time in prison, Simpson received remissions on Independence Day and Christmas. He has been well behaved and has not caused disturbances. He was released with only a bag containing his clothes," Ismono said.
Other British prisoners affected
Three British nationals received sentence reductions yesterday, but several others missed out on freedom. Lindsay Sandiford, 69, from Cheltenham, has spent 12 years on death row for cocaine smuggling and had hoped for liberation.
Thomas Parker, 32, from Workington, Cumbria, received a reduction of one month and 25 days on his 10-month sentence for failing to report a drug crime. Callum James Park, 35, from Hull, had eight months cut from his five-year sentence for methamphetamine and ecstasy possession.
The releases come as Indonesia eases its notoriously harsh anti-narcotics legislation. Sandiford has been detained since 2013 for importing £1.6 million worth of cocaine into the country.
Sources used: "Daily Star", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
