Corruption allegation over Bali Nine trial sparks fresh Australia-Indonesia row

Australia made a last-minute plea on Monday for a stay in the imminent execution of two Australian drug traffickers in Indonesia, saying reports that their trial had been tainted by corruption needed to be investigated. The call from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop almost deepened a diplomatic row with Jakarta. Bishop said the allegations that judges requested money to commute the death sentences for the pair were “very serious” and called into question the integrity of the sentencing process. Indonesia’s foreign ministry hit back, saying Australia needed to show proof of alleged corruption and questioned why concerns were being raised only now instead of 10 years ago.

It’s a matter for Indonesia’s Judicial Commission to investigate these matters and that underlines why we continue to request Indonesia to allow the judicial commission to finalise its review,

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

Armanatha Nasir, spokesman for Indonesia’s foreign ministry, said Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan had been given all the legal avenues to challenge their death sentences. The two are among nine drug convicts, including others from Brazil, Philippines, Ghana, Nigeria and Indonesia, who are due to be executed by firing squad as soon as Tuesday night. Bali-based lawyer Muhammad Rifan told the Sydney Morning Herald that he had agreed to pay judges in the cases of the two men  $101,647 to give them a prison term of less than 20 years but the deal fell through when judges told him they had been ordered by senior legal and government members in Jakarta to impose a death penalty and he didn’t have enough money to meet a revised, higher demand for a lighter sentence.

Even if it is proven that the judge violated ethical codes, it won’t affect the court’s earlier decision. We cannot annul a decision from a court, such a thing can only be done by a higher court.

Commissioner Taufiqqurahman Syahuri

World Bali 9