Drage returns home from Indonesian prison
It was not the most relaxing holiday, but Geraldton surfer Jake Drage seemed pretty content when he finally made it home from Indonesia yesterday.
The 24-year-old cracked a wide, easy smile when greeted by his mother Tiena, his sisters and his grandfather at Perth Airport.
Mr Drage spent nine months in Warungkiara Prison in West Java after a motorcycle crash on June 30 last year that killed a local mother in the surfing town of Cimaja.
The former personal trainer always maintained his innocence, saying he was almost stationary when he was clipped by a motorcycle carrying a teenage girl and her mother Kokom.
Even the family of the woman, who now consider him a good friend, pleaded for his release.
But prosecutors accused him of lying about the speed and in October he was found guilty of reckless driving causing death and sentenced to six months’ jail.
Behind bars, he taught English and ran fitness classes to keep his mind busy.
Mr Drage remained calm on the surface and well-behaved throughout the judicial process, knowing he could have been slugged with a sentence of up to six years.
Arriving in Perth yesterday, he said he would have some pointed things to say about the Indonesian judicial system now that no one was "standing over" him.
Drage family spokesman, Chris Gabelish, said the family hoped to get an audience with Indonesian authorities to talk about their experiences with corruption in the country.
But before any of that, Mr Drage planned to take a few days to enjoy being a free man.
"I’m back on home soil now and it’s time to enjoy time with family and friends, and do all the things you’ve missed out on," he said.
"It’s been a bit of a roller coaster, that’s for sure.
"In a few days, I’ll head back to Geraldton. I’m just going to chill out in a Perth and catch up with family and friends."
He said he wanted to return to Indonesia to finish his holiday, but he would have to wait at least six months to re-enter the country.
"I’ve got a few things to tick off the list that I never got to do this time, unfortunately, but things change and you can’t always be in control," he said.
