Disgraced former soldier Greg Simpson, 39, could be back in the UK within days after he was jailed in Balifor kidnap and robbery in 2022
A British criminal who stole £300,000 worth of Bitcoin in a horrifying knifepoint raid has been released early from his notorious Bali prison.
Disgraced ex-soldier Greg Simpson, 39, could be back on UK soil within days after receiving a pardon from Indonesian officials. The former Army reservist, who served in Afghanistan as part of the London Regiment, was imprisoned for kidnap and robbery in 2022. He held Italians Principe Nerini, 40, and Camilla Guadagnuolo hostage at their Seminyak villa in November 2021.
Simpson was reportedly part of a four-man gang that pilfered 5.8 billion Indonesian Rupiahs during the raid, equivalent to £300,000.
Authorities apprehended Simpson and his alleged accomplice Nicola Disanto, 34, but two other members of the gang remain at large. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto granted Simpson’s release as part of the country’s independence day celebrations.
Exclusive photos obtained by the Mirror depict Simpson carrying his possessions as he was permitted to leave Bali’s infamous Kerobokan prison, home to 320 inmates, yesterday.
He appeared rejuvenated and healthy as he exited Kerobokan – one of Indonesia’s most feared institutions, notorious for being controlled by violent domestic gangs.
He declined to speak with reporters as immigration officials escorted him from the jail to a waiting vehicle that transported him to spend the evening in an immigration detention facility.
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.”
Prison governor Hudi Ismono confirmed that Simpson was amongst three Britons to receive sentence reductions yesterday – where jail terms are shortened for good conduct. These are distributed annually the day following Indonesian Independence Day on August 17.
Ismono said: “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.”
Several British inmates, including drug courier Lindsay Sandiford, 69, who has spent 12 years awaiting execution, had hoped to be liberated. The cocaine smuggler, from Cheltenham, Glos, believes she can escape the firing squad due to legislative changes.
Indonesia has recently released other traffickers serving comparable sentences as it eases its notoriously harsh anti-narcotics legislation. She has been detained in Kerobokan since 2013 for importing £1.6million worth of cocaine into the nation.
The Mirror has learned that only three UK nationals were either released or had their sentences reduced. Thomas Parker, a 32 year old electrician from Workington, Cumbria, was granted a remission of one month and 25 days on his 10-month sentence for failing to report a drug crime.
Parker had unknowingly received a delivery of a kilo of MDMA from a taxi driver in January.
Callum James Park, a 35 year old drug convict from Hull, East Yorkshire, had eight months deducted from his 2021 five-year sentence for possession of 11.8 grams of methamphetamine and 5.5 grams of ecstasy.
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