[Breaking news update, posted at 2:50 a.m. ET]
An Indonesian court has rejected a last-ditch bid by Australian heroin smuggler Andrew Chan — one of the so-called “Bali Nine” — to challenge Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s refusal to grant him clemency.
[Previous story, posted at 1:03 a.m. ET]
An Indonesian court is expected to deliver its ruling Monday on whether two Australian drug smugglers — members of the so-called “Bali Nine” syndicate — can legally challenge their planned executions.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are awaiting death by firing squad on Indonesia’s so-called “execution island” after serving 10 years on death row for their role in a failed heroin smuggling plot.
A panel of three judges in the state administrative court in Jakarta will rule whether the court has the authority to consider a legal challenge to Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s decision to refuse clemency to the men. Lawyers for the pair argue that Widodo failed to individually consider their cases.
The hearing is seen as the last avenue of appeal for the convicted drug smugglers.
Hard line
Australia has repeatedly appealed for clemency for the pair, and has previously unsuccessfully proposed a prisoner swap with Indonesia as a way of avoiding their deaths.
Indonesia has long taken a hard line on drug smugglers, and since assuming office in October 2014, Widodo has made it clear he intends to be tough on those found guilty of such crimes.
In December, six prisoners convicted of drug offenses were killed by firing squad, including five foreigners from Brazil, the Netherlands, Malawi, Nigeria and Vietnam.
Chan and Sukumaran have been jailed since April 2005 for a failed bid to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia.
Failed smuggling plot
The Bali Nine were arrested after Indonesian police received a tip off from Australian Federal Police.
Chan, 31, was called the ringleader of the plot, while Sukumaran was described as Chan’s collaborator. Seven other people who participated in the plan are serving lengthy prison sentences.
Police caught four people at the Denpasar airport with more than eight kilograms of heroin strapped to their bodies.
Another four — including Sukumaran — were arrested at a hotel in the village of Kuta. Chan was detained after boarding a plane to Sydney — he wasn’t carrying any drugs but was named by others as the mastermind of the plot.
Rehabilitation claimed
Sukumaran and Chan have become model prisoners during their time behind bars, according to fellow inmates and the jail’s chief warden.
Sukumaran is studying fine arts and has set up a class for fellow inmates. Chan has found spirituality, which he uses to counsel inmates with drug problems.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has previously said that their rehabilitation is genuine.
Australians have shown public support for the men, with politicians and members of the public turning out for a dawn vigil to demonstrate opposition to the planned executions.