Scott Anthony Rush (born 3 October 1985)[2] is an Australian former labourer who was convicted in Indonesia for drug trafficking as a member of the Bali Nine.
In 2005, on his first trip to Bali, Rush was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar with 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) of heroin concealed on his body.
Following his arrest, conviction, and sentencing, it was revealed that Rush had been expelled from Brisbane's St Laurence's College during his Year 10 studies for an incident involving drugs.
Further information released following his sentencing, state that in December 2004 Rush pleaded guilty at Inala Magistrates' Court to 16 offences, including drug possession, fraud, theft and drink-driving.
[6] According to media reports, Rush and his Brisbane friend, Michael Czugaj, met Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen in a Fortitude Valley hotel.
[7] Nguyen offered them both a free holiday to Bali,[8] with one media report also stating that Rush was provided a mobile phone prior to his departure from Sydney.
Allegedly, Chan and Sukumaran threatened both Rush and Czugaj, ordering them to carry concealed goods, or that their families would be killed.
On 20 April 2005, graphic footage of the arrests and subsequent police questioning of Rush and other members of the Bali Nine was aired on Australian television.
Alleged co-ringleader, Andrew Chan was also arrested the same day while seated on an Australian Airlines flight waiting to depart Denpasar for Sydney.
[13] Rush senior claims then to have received assurances from the AFP that they would tell his son he was under surveillance to dissuade him from going through with the crime before the group's departure from Indonesia.
[14][15][16] When the Bali Nine were arrested, the news of the tipoff became public[17] and there was criticism of the role of the AFP in protecting the interests of Australian citizens.
When I received a call from the Australian Government authorities that Scott had been detained in Indonesia for attempting to export heroin, I was speechless, sickened to the gut."
[21] Czugaj testified that he and Rush had never met Lawrence or Stephens, both since convicted and of New South Wales, until they were all arrested together at Ngurah Rai Airport.
[27][1] Serving his imprisonment in Indonesia Rush receives $125 per month under a prisoner loan scheme from the Australian Federal Government.