'Budgie Nine' members arrive back in Australia to media scrum
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Oct 9, 2016
The men could be charged or police could ask the magistrate for their detention to be extended while they continue their investigation.
The men's lawyer said he believed the men had left the country immediately after their court appearance.
Formula One ace Ricciardo Thursday threw his support behind his fellow Australians, calling their celebrations "harmless" and called on the authorities to send them home.
Underneath their outerwear, the Australian race auto fans were wearing skimpy swimwear printed with the Malaysian flag.
Nick Kelly told reporters in Sydney on Friday tha.
In scenes that quickly went viral, the men also quaffed beer from their shoes, imitating Ricciardo, who had celebrated by chugging champagne from his footwear.
The infamous Budgie Nine have urged travelling Australians to respect other cultures after learning their own harsh lesson in Malaysia.
The men, aged 25 to 29, who were detained since Sunday night, arrived at the court compound at about 9am dressed in suits and shirts, with scores of journalists' cameras trained at them.
Mr Walker, a policy advisor to Defence Industries Minister Christopher Pyne, has been rebuked by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"BUDGIE NINE" This picture taken on October 2, 2016 shows spectators with swimwear bearing a Malaysian flag during the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang. "But I'm sure - well, I'm hoping - the Malaysians will understand that I don't think there's any real malice in it. Stupidity?"
The detainees, all in their 20s, were dubbed the "Budgie Nine" by Australian media, a reference to Speedo-style swimsuits known colloquially in Australia as "budgie smugglers".
"But they do need to reflect very seriously on their conduct".
"We'd like to think that they'll be home soon, but it's up to the Malaysian authorities to decide what to do now", he added.
The company features on its website and social media photographs of customers wearing its swimwear in unusual public locations, including in front of Westminster Palace in London and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Daniel Ricciardo is ready for more as he heads to Suzuka for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix on the back of his first victory of the season in Malaysia last weekend.
