Fed: Four of the nine accused could escape death penalty

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2005
Fed: Four of the nine accused could escape death penalty

Four of the nine Australians arrested in Bali for alleged heroin offences are expected
to escape charges that attract the death penalty.

Bali's police anti-drugs squad chief, Colonel BAMBANG SUGIARTO, has told the ABC that
only five Australians are to be charged with offences that could result in death by a
firing squad.

Alleged ringleader ANDREW CHAN, who's 21, and four others were allegedly caught at
Bali's main airport with packages of heroin strapped to their bodies.

The four -- 19-year-old MICHAEL WILLIAM CZUGAJ and SCOTT ANTHONY RUSH, 29-year-old
MARTIN ERIC STEPHENS and 27-year-old RENAE LAWRENCE -- were detained while awaiting a
flight to Sydney on Sunday.

Mr SUGIARTO has told the ABC that lesser charges are planned for the group of four
detained at a Bali hotel -- 27-year-old TACH DUC THANH NGUYEN, 24-year-old MYURAN SUKUMARAN,
SI YI CHEN and 18-year-old MATTHEW JAMES NORMAN.

AAP RTV sm/lm/wf

KEYWORD: INDON DRUGS (CANBERRA)

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