April 27
INDONESIA:
Bali 9 'all' face death penalty
All 9 Australians detained in Bali over accusations of heroin smuggling
will face the death penalty if convicted, Indonesian police said today.
The chief of the Bali anti-drug squad Colonel Bambang Sugiarto said all
the nine, not just the 4 detained at the airport allegedly with blocks of
heroin strapped to their bodies, could face a firing squad under
Indonesian drug laws.
They would be tried under law number 82 covering the trafficking and
distribution of narcotics, he said.
"Article 82 covers exporters, coordinators and organisers, so they are all
facing the death penalty," Colonel Sugiarto said.
Lawyers originally hoped the 4 Australians detained during a hotel raid
would be tried only for possession - a crime that carries only a 10-year
jail term.
Colonel Sugiarto said the police investigation had revealed that several
of the 9 had previously travelled to Bali and had met other members of the
group before.
"Some of the suspects have met many times and we have proof they came
together from immigration documents," he said.
Alleged gang mastermind Sydney martial arts student Myuran Sukumaran, 24,
drug courier Renae Lawrence, 27, of Wallsend near Newcastle, and Matthew
Norman, 18. of Sydney, all had multiple passports.
Police moved Mr Sukumaran to an isolation cell yesterday, taking him to
Bali's Benoa Harbour police station.
"We are worried he will try to influence the other suspects and the
investigation process," Colonel Sugiarto said.
Australian Federal Police experts would arrive in Bali this afternoon to
help Indonesian police crack phone codes protecting the mobile phones of
Mr Sukumaran and the man police now believe was his deputy, Sydney man
Andrew Chan, 21, he said.
Colonel Sugiarto said yesterday the phones contained vital information
that could lead to the ultimate bosses of the gang in Australia.
Most of the 9 also had a pre-programmed number in their phones for a 'Mr
P', who the 4 drug mules, or couriers, were to call the moment they landed
at Sydney airport.
But three phones in Mr Chan's possession and one belonging to Mr Sukumaran
had been switched off, and the pair were refusing to tell police the vital
security numbers to unlock them, Colonel Sugiarto said.
(source: The Advertiser)
