Andrew Chan (drug smuggler)

Andrew Chan, mugshot

Andrew Chan (b. January 12, 1984), is an Australian from Sydney, New South Wales. Chan is the "godfather" of the Bali Nine, found guilty of attempted drug trafficking of heroin into Australia from Indonesia. Prosecutors recommended Chan be given the death penalty and on 2006-02-14 Chan was sentenced to death by the Denpasar District Court. Chan was 21 at the time of his arrest on 2005-04-17.

Prior to his arrest Chan worked for the Eurest Catering Company in New South Wales with fellow defendants Renae Lawrence and Martin Stephens, however he denied knowing them upon his arrest.

Arrest in Indonesia

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Police surveillance photo of accused Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in Bali.

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Indonesian police released images showing heroin strapped to the bodies of those arrested at Ngurah Rai Airport.

Chan was arrested whilst seated on an Australian Airlines flight waiting to depart Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Indonesia on 2005-04-17 for Sydney. He was arrested carrying three mobile phones and a boarding pass, however no drugs were found in his possession.

After receiving a tipoff from the Australian Federal Police about the group's travel to Indonesia and their possible links to illegal drug trade, Indonesian police placed the group under surveillance for a week before their arrests. Four of the final nine arrested, Michael Czugaj and Scott Rush of Brisbane, and Martin Stephens and Renae Lawrence, aquaintainces of Chan from their work at the Eurest Catering Company in Australia, were arrested as they prepared to board an Australia-bound flight. All arrested at the airport were carrying quantities of heroin concealed in plastic bags and strapped to their bodies. Between them they were alleged to be carrying more than 8.3 kilograms of heroin. Another four Australian's were later arrested at Kuta Beach.

It is alleged by Indonesian police Chan recruited the other eight to act as drug mules and offered them between AUD$10,000 to A$15,000 each to carry out this task. All nine strongly deny the charges, but the Indonesian police have released videos showing the heroin being removed from the bodies of the four arrested at the airport. Chan was carrying no drugs. He had made a prior visit to Bali on 2004-10-16.

Renae Lawrence later admitted to two prior visits to Bali on 2004-10-16 and 2004-11-05, where she and Andrew Chan made an earlier successful run with heroin from Bali to Australia during their October visit. The second delivery, scheduled for December 2004 was aborted when heroin suppliers failed to deliver [1].

Criminal trial

Chan was tried separarely from the other eight defendants in the Denpasar District Court with is trial beginning in October, 2005. Australian Prime Minister, John Howard said the Australian government would oppose any death sentences imposed, saying "We have a long-standing opposition to the death penalty and it's well known that if a death penalty is imposed on an Australian we ask that that death penalty not be imposed." [2].

Orders to smuggle

Fellow accused and the only female of the nine arrested, Renae Lawrence claims she had received threats of harm against herself and her family if she did not proceed with the plan to import heroin into Australia. Lawrence gave evidence in the Denpasar District Court she was ordered to book a flight to Bali. She claimed she did not know why she was ordered to travel [3]. Lawrence was sentenced to life imprisonment for her role in the heroin importation plan on 2006-02-13.

Scott Rush, also sentenced to life imprisonment on 2006-02-13, accused Chan of strapping the heroin to his body whilst wearing rubber gloves. [4]

Chan has protested his innocence, saying before the court,

"The outcome I wish, of course, and my family is that you find that you would release me, for I had nothing to participate in this. A lot of lies have been set against me, but the true reality is I'm not what people put me out to be. I've never threatened anybody in my life" [5].

References

Arrest in Indonesia

Criminal trial

Orders to smuggle

See also

References