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INDONESIA. TWO AUSTRALIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN BALI DRUGS TRIAL
February 14, 2006: an Indonesian court sentenced two young Australian men to die by firing squad for attempting to smuggle heroin from the resort island of Bali, verdicts that could strain ties with Canberra.
The sentences matched what prosecutors had demanded for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the accused masterminds of a group of nine Australians arrested on Bali last April for trying to smuggle more than 8.2 kg (18 lb) of heroin to Australia.
The court also sentenced two drug couriers to life in jail, after giving the same punishment to two others on February 13.
Chan, 22, shook his head, stared at the ceiling and then smirked when the verdict was delivered. Both he and Sukumaran, 24, are from Sydney.
The death sentences could ignite criticism in Australia, which has abolished the capital punishment.
Australia had urged Jakarta not to impose the death penalty on any of the group and will plead for clemency for any condemned to die, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.
Lawyers for Chan said they would appeal. Prosecutors had said Chan was the "driving engine" of the operation. It was unclear if Sukumaran would appeal.
The final stage of an appeal allows inmates on death row to seek clemency from the president. (Sources: Reuters, 14/02/2006)
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