ladyarkles
04-24-2005, 07:57 PM
Death 'linked' to Bali Nine ring
April 25, 2005
AUSTRALIAN police are investigating earlier visits to Indonesia by some of the nine Australians arrested in Bali, and believe they have firm leads on those behind the syndicate.
The progress in the case comes as Indonesian police said a suspicious death in Bali's Kerobokan prison may be linked to the same syndicate. A senior drugs intelligence officer said the suspicious death of a convicted heroin dealer last week would be investigated in connection with the Bali Nine.
Alpones Simbolon, convicted in 2002 of trafficking 2.2kg of heroin, was found dead in the washroom of his cell in Kerobokan early last Tuesday, apparently hanged.
His death was classed as suicide, but complaints from his family forced authorities to exhume his body, and police await the autopsy reports that could be ready as soon as next week. "There could be a connection there," one official said. "It needs investigation."
Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty said the investigation was going well. He said tracking the prior movements of the syndicate was important.
"Things to think about now are . . . how often this particular group might have travelled to Bali," Mr Keelty told Channel Nine.
"We're confident that there's a lot of good work been done in relation to the size of the syndicate and the people behind the syndicate."
As more families paid gut-wrenching visits to the nine accused in Denpasar, Renae Lawrence indicated from the Bali police headquarters lockup that two people had threatened her and her family. Adding yet more mystery to the investigation, Ms Lawrence made it clear she feared for her safety, even in police custody.
Accused ringleader Andrew Chan, 21, had threatened her, Ms Lawrence indicated, and one other person whom she would not name.
Yesterday was the first time any of the accused had fingered a second person.
All bar one of the nine accused were visited by members of their families yesterday. Some of the relatives were accompanied by television current affairs program crews, and none would say anything to waiting reporters.
The parents of Michael Czugaj arrived at police headquarters for the first time yesterday morning to comfort their 19-year-old son.
The young man from Brisbane appeared overwhelmed as his mother wept and his father tried to fold the entire family in his arms. After giving their son a picture of Jesus, the Czugajs left without saying a word to journalists.
In some small comfort for families, Mr Keelty said there might be a point at which the AFP stopped sharing information with Indonesia about the case if it could directly contribute to a death sentence being handed down. "The policy is that we will not give evidence that will, or information that will, directly cause or result in somebody receiving the death penalty," he said.
Indonesian police have so far failed to pinpoint the crucial point of sale of the heroin.
One officer said they were homing in on Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, 27, from Brisbane, as a possible buyer within the ring, but they had yet to find where the narcotic was bought, and who sold it.
by Sian Powell and Simon Kearney
Source The Australian
April 25, 2005
AUSTRALIAN police are investigating earlier visits to Indonesia by some of the nine Australians arrested in Bali, and believe they have firm leads on those behind the syndicate.
The progress in the case comes as Indonesian police said a suspicious death in Bali's Kerobokan prison may be linked to the same syndicate. A senior drugs intelligence officer said the suspicious death of a convicted heroin dealer last week would be investigated in connection with the Bali Nine.
Alpones Simbolon, convicted in 2002 of trafficking 2.2kg of heroin, was found dead in the washroom of his cell in Kerobokan early last Tuesday, apparently hanged.
His death was classed as suicide, but complaints from his family forced authorities to exhume his body, and police await the autopsy reports that could be ready as soon as next week. "There could be a connection there," one official said. "It needs investigation."
Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty said the investigation was going well. He said tracking the prior movements of the syndicate was important.
"Things to think about now are . . . how often this particular group might have travelled to Bali," Mr Keelty told Channel Nine.
"We're confident that there's a lot of good work been done in relation to the size of the syndicate and the people behind the syndicate."
As more families paid gut-wrenching visits to the nine accused in Denpasar, Renae Lawrence indicated from the Bali police headquarters lockup that two people had threatened her and her family. Adding yet more mystery to the investigation, Ms Lawrence made it clear she feared for her safety, even in police custody.
Accused ringleader Andrew Chan, 21, had threatened her, Ms Lawrence indicated, and one other person whom she would not name.
Yesterday was the first time any of the accused had fingered a second person.
All bar one of the nine accused were visited by members of their families yesterday. Some of the relatives were accompanied by television current affairs program crews, and none would say anything to waiting reporters.
The parents of Michael Czugaj arrived at police headquarters for the first time yesterday morning to comfort their 19-year-old son.
The young man from Brisbane appeared overwhelmed as his mother wept and his father tried to fold the entire family in his arms. After giving their son a picture of Jesus, the Czugajs left without saying a word to journalists.
In some small comfort for families, Mr Keelty said there might be a point at which the AFP stopped sharing information with Indonesia about the case if it could directly contribute to a death sentence being handed down. "The policy is that we will not give evidence that will, or information that will, directly cause or result in somebody receiving the death penalty," he said.
Indonesian police have so far failed to pinpoint the crucial point of sale of the heroin.
One officer said they were homing in on Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, 27, from Brisbane, as a possible buyer within the ring, but they had yet to find where the narcotic was bought, and who sold it.
by Sian Powell and Simon Kearney
Source The Australian