Indonesian President rejects Bali Nine bid for clemency

Bali Nine ringleader Myuran Sukumaran remains on deaths row after a bid for Presidential clemency was rejected, his lawyers fear time is running out.

Myuran Sukumaran. (AAP)

Myuran Sukumaran. (AAP)

Bali Nine death row inmate Myuran Sukumaran has spent nine years on death row over a drug-smuggling conviction, his latest bid to avoid execution now failed.

Sukumaran - along with co-accused Andrew Chan - requested presidential clemency, but this morning news broke that Sukumaran's bid had been rejected, while Chan's fate remains unknown.

The pair's lawyer Julian McMahon says the situation is desperate.

"What is clear is that the clock is ticking, it's pretty close to midnight and we're in a very bad situation."

Sukumaran was arrested in April 2005 at a hotel room in Kuta with two others. Police found drugs, plastic bags and tape, which they said was designed to package the drugs for trafficking.

The remaining six were arrested at the airport, all but Andrew Chan found with drugs strapped on their bodies.

Sukumaran and Chan were identified by the others as the ringleaders, and were sentenced to death.

They have both appealed their sentences in the High Court, and lodged a review in the Supreme Court, both have been unsuccessful. A plea for clemency has now been rejected by a president who's promised to be tough on drug offenders.
Hasoloan Sianturi, spokesman for Denpasar District Court, displays a Clemency Presidential Decree for Myuran Sukumaran. (AAP)
Hasoloan Sianturi, spokesman for Denpasar District Court, displays a Clemency Presidential Decree for Myuran Sukumaran. (AAP)
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says all diplomatic avenues are being exhausted.

"My profound hope is that these executions will not go ahead. What I'm not going to do, though, is jeopardise the relationship with Indonesia," he said.

The last legal avenue to avoid execution is a judicial review, based on new evidence. Bali Nine lawyer Julian McMahon says he's still hoping the Prime Minister intervenes.

"I don't expect him to do it in public, often these things can be done behind closed doors, but at the end of the day my client looks like he's going to be dragged out and shot," he said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is making inquiries on behalf of Australia. However she warns only so much can be done.

"There is a limit to what the Australia government can do once a person is caught up in the legal system of another country."

For now Myuran Sukumaran remains and Andrew Chan remain on death row, other members of the Bali Nine Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen and Scott Rush have had their death sentences reduced to life, while Michael Czugaj and Martin Stephens are also serving life in Kerobokan.

The group's only female member, Renae Lawrence had her sentenced reduced to 20 years on appeal.

Julian McMahon says Sukumaran and Chan have turned their lives around in prison. He says not only have they initiated rehabilitation programs, they've been actively involved in helping other prisons learn new skills.

"They're fully rehabilitated they're fully reformed and they've help many other prisoners acquire skills to get jobs when they leave prison."

He says these factors need to be taken into consideration before an execution takes place.

The fate of seven lives have already been decided, two now hang in the balance.


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Source: SBS


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