ladyarkles
04-27-2005, 06:36 PM
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.
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.