Fresh questions over role of AFP in Bali Nine arrests

The Australian Federal Police is facing fresh questions over its role in the Bali Nine arrests.

AFP Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan testifies at the final appeal of then Bali Nine death row inmate Scott Rush in 2010.

AFP Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan testifies at the final appeal of then Bali Nine death row inmate Scott Rush in 2010.

(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)

The Australian Federal Police is facing fresh questions over its role in the Bali Nine arrests.

The AFP gave details to Indonesian authorities about the heroin smuggling operation, ultimately resulting in the conviction of nine Australians in Indonesia.

Whether they did the right thing will be raised during Senate hearings next month.

Sacha Payne has more.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)

Lawyer Bob Myers, a family friend of Bali Nine member Scott Rush helped provide detailed information to the AFP.

But he says the Australians should have been arrested on home soil, where they would not have faced the death penalty for their crimes.

"When I first saw the AFP shortly after their apprehension, I was told by the AFP that it was inevitable that one or more of the people we know as the Bali Nine would die. What they didn't tell me was the role that they played in bringing about that consequence. And that I think is...It's a black day for us, it's a black day for Australia, its a black day for the AFP because of the role that they had in bringing about, not only the death of these two people but the incarceration of the other seven."

The AFP has said it would do the same again.

But it's been revealed that a federal minister is now required to sign off on any similar information sharing with foreign agencies.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the changes are sufficient.

"The involvement of the Australian Federal Police was reviewed a number of years ago. And changes were made. We are satisfied that the changes that are in place are appropriate. But I don't believe that today is the day for recriminations."

But Palmer United Party MP Clive Palmer wants a conscience vote on the issue in federal parliament.

He's co-sponsoring private member's bill next month with Independent Cathy McGowan.

He says the bill would make in an offence for a public official to disclose information to a foreign official that might lead to a person facing the death penalty.

"There's no question that what they did at the time was legal, I'm saying it shouldn't be. In the future we should learn from our mistakes. It should be absolutely to all Australian agencies, not just AFP that this is not something that is acceptable by the parliament of Australia and the Australian community."

Opposition leader Bill Shorten says stronger rules may be required.

"Following the arrests in 2005 and subsequent legal action, in 2009 the guidelines were changed. Going to this very question of providing information that would see people potentially charged or convicted of offences carrying the death penalty. So the guidelines were changes in 2009. It is legitimate to say, should these guidelines be tightened further?"

Independent MP Nick Xenophon lobbied the government to prevent the executions.

He told the ABC, he'll be raising the issue of the AFP's involvement in the arrests during Senate estimate hearings in Canberra next month.

"I will be writing to the joint standing committee on foreign affairs to ask that this matter be looked at. I think it is legitimate to do so.This is not about recriminations. It's about making sure that this never, ever happens again."

The AFP declined to comment on the executions today, out of respect for the men's families.

However, a spokesperson told SBS, the AFP will be making a statement in the near future.

 

 

 

 


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By Sacha Payne


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