(7/11/2011)
Myuaran Sukumaran has learned that the Indonesian Supreme Court has turned down his final appeal against a death sentence for his leading role in the “Bali Nine” attempt to smuggle heroin through Bali’s airport in 2005.
The disappointing news for Australian Sukumaran comes several weeks after the same court reaffirmed the death sentence of Andrew Chan, a cohort of Sukumaran in the drug offense and a fellow occupant of death row at Bali’s infamous Kerobokan prison
Together with Scott Rush, the men formed the final 3 members of the “Bali Nine” under threat of death before a firing squad. Rush, however, learned in May that his death sentence had been changed to life in prison by the Indonesian Supreme Court who acknowledged his "suppoprting player" role in the criminal conspiracy.
The remaining 6 members of the “Bali Nine” are all housed in the Kerobokan penitentiary serving sentences of between 20 years and life.
Todung Mulya Lubis, a leading Indonesian lawyer representing Myuaran Sukumaran, said:
“I’m very saddened by the decision. He has admitted his guilt and asked not to be sentenced to death. The death punishment should actually be revoked."
Sukarman’s and Chan’s final hope now apparently rests with a commutation of sentence issued by the Indonesian President. President Yudhoyono has, however, gone on record saying he would show no mercy to those convicted of violating Indonesia’s narcotics law.
There are an estimated 100 plus people sitting on death row in Indonesia. The last flurry of judicial killings in the Republic occurred in 2008 when 10 people were put to death, all before a firing squad. Among the ten who died that year were Bali bombers Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra.
Related Articles
[Andrew Chan's Death Sentence Affirmed]
[The Gift of Life]
© Bali
Discovery Tours. Articles may be quoted and reproduced
if attributed to http://www.balidiscovery.com.
