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Andrew Chan

Andrew Chan (12 January 1984 – 29 April 2015) was an Australian criminal who orchestrated the Bali Nine, a syndicate attempting to smuggle more than 8 kilograms of heroin from Indonesia to Australia, leading to his arrest, conviction for drug trafficking, and execution by firing squad.^[1]^[2] Born in Sydney to Cantonese migrant parents, Chan grew up in the suburb of Enfield, attended Homebush Boys High School until Year 10, and became involved in drugs during his teenage years, later emerging as the ringleader of international smuggling efforts despite lacking prior high-level experience.^[3]^[4] In April 2005, Chan and eight other Australians were arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport after Indonesian authorities, tipped off by Australian Federal Police, discovered heroin strapped to the bodies of mules in the group, with Chan directing the operation from a nearby hotel.^[5] Convicted in 2006 and sentenced to death under Indonesia's strict narcotics laws, which treat large-scale trafficking as a capital offense due to its causal links to widespread addiction and societal harm, Chan spent nearly a decade in Kerobokan Prison, where he converted to Christianity, studied theology, was ordained as a pastor, and led Bible studies for inmates, including baptizing over 200 prisoners.^[1]^[6] His reported rehabilitation efforts, mentored by prison visitors and focused on personal redemption, fueled debates over mercy but did not sway Indonesian authorities, who prioritized deterrence against drug syndicates responsible for importing substances that empirically fuel overdose deaths and crime waves.^[7] Chan's execution on Nusakambangan Island alongside Myuran Sukumaran and six foreign nationals sparked diplomatic tensions between Australia and Indonesia, with Australian leaders pleading for clemency based on his prison transformation, while Indonesian officials upheld the penalty to signal zero tolerance for trafficking networks that exploit couriers to distribute highly addictive opioids.^[8] Prior to the Bali plot, Chan had masterminded at least one other failed heroin importation from Hong Kong, underscoring his role in organized crime rather than isolated error.^[9] Married to Indonesian inmate Febyanti Herewila shortly before his death, Chan's case highlighted tensions between retributive justice and claims of post-crime reform, with empirical evidence of heroin's lethality—linked to thousands of annual deaths globally—supporting Indonesia's causal rationale for severe penalties over rehabilitative alternatives that had failed to prevent his initial offenses.^[10]^[11]

Early Life

Family Background and Childhood

Andrew Chan was born on January 12, 1984, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to Ken and Helen Chan, Chinese migrants who had married in Sydney and operated a Chinese restaurant for approximately four decades.^[12]^[13] As the youngest child in the family, he grew up in Sydney within a household of Chinese cultural heritage.^[12]^[14] Chan's childhood included early exposure to Christianity through a lifelong friendship with Majors David and Shelley Soper, Salvation Army officers based in Sydney, which later influenced his faith.^[15] By age 14, he had developed an addiction to heroin, marking the onset of personal struggles that preceded his involvement in organized crime.^[16]

Education and Early Adulthood

Andrew Chan was born on January 12, 1984, in Sydney, Australia, to Chinese migrant parents who owned a restaurant in the city's south-west.^[4]^[3] He grew up in the suburb of Enfield as the youngest of three siblings.^[3] Chan attended Homebush Boys High School but left in Year 10, forgoing further formal education.^[3] In his late teens and early twenties, he worked as a part-time cook, including for a catering company, drawing on his family's restaurant background.^[3]^[17] Known among peers for his sense of humor, practical jokes, and interest in rugby league, Chan transitioned into this line of work without completing a formal chef's apprenticeship.^[3] By age 21, prior to his arrest in April 2005, he had not pursued higher education or specialized vocational training beyond on-the-job experience in food service.^[4]^[3]

Entry into Criminal Activity

Initial Involvement in Drug Trade

Andrew Chan left school after Year 10 and took up employment at a catering company in Sydney, where he later admitted to experimenting with drugs and experiencing a lack of direction in life.^[4] This period marked his transition from personal drug use to active participation in the drug trade, as he began organizing the importation of illicit substances into Australia.^[4] Chan's initial foray into smuggling involved recruiting vulnerable teenagers to assist in these operations, several of whom would later become part of the Bali Nine group.^[4] By early 2005, he had successfully completed at least one drug importation from Bali to Australia, demonstrating his growing role as an organizer, though details of his very first dealings remain undocumented in public records.^[4] Despite reports of a prior criminal record, Chan had no formal arrests or convictions in Australia prior to the Bali operation, indicating his activities operated under the radar of law enforcement.^[18]

Role in Organizing the Bali Nine Scheme

Andrew Chan, alongside Myuran Sukumaran, acted as a co-ringleader in the Bali Nine heroin smuggling operation, recruiting and directing seven Australian nationals to serve as body couriers.^[1] ^[19] The pair conceived the plot in Sydney during late 2004, targeting heroin procurement from Indonesian suppliers for transport back to Australia, where the drugs were valued at approximately A$4 million on the street market.^[20] ^[21] Chan played a direct role in assembling the team, approaching acquaintances in Sydney's casual workforce—such as at catering firms—to enlist mules with promises of quick financial rewards for carrying concealed packages.^[22] He and Sukumaran financed the enterprise, covering airline tickets, hotel stays in Bali, and initial payments to local contacts for sourcing the narcotics.^[19] In Bali, the organizers oversaw the division of roughly 8.3 kilograms of heroin into eight body-packing belts, which were strapped onto the recruits under their clothing for concealment during the flight to Australia.^[1] Indonesian prosecutors, drawing on confessions and witness accounts from the arrested mules, established Chan's leadership in coordinating logistics and enforcing compliance, including threats to ensure secrecy and participation.^[23] The scheme relied on the mules' apparent legitimacy as tourists to evade detection, with Chan positioning himself as the operational overseer interfacing between the Australian recruits and Sukumaran's handling of procurement details.^[19] This structure mirrored low-level syndicate tactics, prioritizing disposable couriers to minimize risk to the principals, though Australian Federal Police intelligence—shared with Indonesian authorities—ultimately thwarted the April 17, 2005, airport departure.^[20]

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Capture at Bali Airport, April 2005

On 17 April 2005, Indonesian National Police arrested Andrew Chan at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, as he attempted to board a flight to Australia.^[21]^[24] The operation targeted Chan and eight other Australian nationals, collectively known as the Bali Nine, who were attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin concealed in body-worn belts.^[21]^[24] Chan, identified as the ringleader, carried no drugs himself but was detained alongside four mules—Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Renae Lawrence, and Martin Stephens—who possessed the majority of the narcotics taped to their torsos.^[1]^[21] The arrests followed intelligence shared by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with Indonesian counterparts between 8 and 12 April 2005, including details of the group's travel plans, hotel stays, and smuggling method.^[25]^[26] This tip-off enabled Indonesian authorities to place the suspects under surveillance upon their staggered arrivals in Bali earlier that month, culminating in the airport interception.^[26]^[27] Concurrently, Myuran Sukumaran and three others were apprehended at a nearby hotel, yielding additional evidence including packaging materials and currency.^[21]^[24] Initial interrogations revealed Chan's central role in recruiting and directing the mules, with the heroin sourced from Indonesian suppliers and intended for distribution in Australia.^[1] The total seizure represented one of Indonesia's largest airport drug busts at the time, prompting immediate charges under the country's strict narcotics laws.^[24]

Indonesian Trial and Conviction

The trial of Andrew Chan and the other Bali Nine members commenced in the Denpasar District Court following their indictment on charges of violating Indonesia's Anti-Narcotics Law No. 22 of 1997, which prescribes the death penalty for smuggling more than one kilogram of Group I narcotics such as heroin.^[20] Chan, identified as the ringleader alongside Myuran Sukumaran, faced accusations of orchestrating the importation of 8.3 kilograms of heroin strapped to the bodies of four mules (Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Renae Lawrence, and Martin Stephens) for export to Australia, with the drugs valued at approximately A$4 million.^[1] ^[21] Proceedings began in earnest in late 2005 after preliminary investigations, involving witness testimonies from Indonesian police, forensic evidence of the heroin packages, and confessions obtained during interrogation, though the defendants later alleged coercion in extracting those statements.^[28] During the hearings, prosecutors presented evidence that Chan had recruited and coordinated the group, providing funding, travel arrangements, and instructions for the smuggling operation, positioning him as the "kingpin" under Indonesian legal standards for organized trafficking.^[20] Chan and his co-defendants mounted a defense claiming entrapment by Australian Federal Police, who had tipped off Indonesian authorities prior to the arrests, but the court rejected this argument, emphasizing the scale of the operation and the defendants' prior involvement in drug networks.^[1] The trial unfolded over several months in a public courtroom amid international media scrutiny, with Indonesian judges prioritizing national drug policy enforcement over foreign pleas for leniency.^[21] On February 14, 2006, a panel of three judges, led by Judge Arief Supratman, convicted Chan of leading an organized heroin export ring, marking the first instance in which the Denpasar District Court imposed death by firing squad for such offenses.^[28] ^[20] The verdict was based on the irrefutable physical evidence of the drugs and the hierarchical structure of the syndicate, with Chan sentenced to execution alongside Sukumaran, while others received life or lesser terms.^[1] This conviction underscored Indonesia's stringent application of capital punishment for narcotics trafficking, reflecting judicial determination to deter large-scale importation rings despite diplomatic tensions with Australia.^[21]

Sentencing and Initial Appeals

On 14 February 2006, the Denpasar District Court sentenced Andrew Chan to death by firing squad for his leadership role in attempting to smuggle more than 8 kilograms of heroin out of Indonesia, marking the first instance of such a penalty for drug offenses in that court's history.^[20] ^[29] The court determined Chan had organized the operation, recruited participants, and directed the concealment of heroin in body cavities and luggage, rejecting defense arguments that emphasized his lack of prior convictions and claims of coercion by external pressures.^[21] Prosecutors had sought the death penalty in January 2006, citing the severity of Indonesia's anti-narcotics laws under which drug trafficking carries capital punishment.^[29] Chan, alongside co-ringleader Myuran Sukumaran, lodged an appeal to the Bali High Court shortly after sentencing, on or around 17 February 2006, challenging the verdict on grounds including procedural irregularities, insufficient evidence of direct involvement in packaging the drugs, and disproportionate punishment relative to his role.^[20] ^[21] The appeal contended that the trial judge had overlooked mitigating factors such as Chan's youth (age 21 at arrest) and absence of violence in the scheme, while arguing for a reduction to life imprisonment based on Indonesian precedents for lesser culpability.^[29] On 26 April 2006, the Bali High Court rejected Chan's appeal, upholding the death sentence after reviewing trial transcripts, witness testimonies from Indonesian police and co-defendants, and forensic evidence linking him to the smuggling coordination.^[25] ^[20] The court affirmed the district court's findings on Chan's organizational authority, dismissing claims of evidentiary gaps as unsubstantiated and reiterating Indonesia's policy of exemplary punishment for drug kingpins to deter trafficking amid rising heroin inflows.^[21] This decision aligned with concurrent High Court rulings upholding Sukumaran's sentence while adjusting some co-conspirators' penalties downward, reflecting differentiated culpability assessments.^[25]

Imprisonment Period

Life in Kerobokan Prison

Andrew Chan was imprisoned in Kerobokan Prison, Bali's main detention facility, following his 2006 conviction for drug trafficking, where he served as the ringleader of the Bali Nine group attempting to smuggle over 8 kilograms of heroin into Australia.^[1] The prison, notorious for overcrowding and rudimentary conditions including shared cells with limited sanitation, housed Chan in a death row block alongside other foreign inmates, though prisoners often managed internal affairs with minimal guard interference, fostering a self-regulated community dynamic.^[30] Chan's daily routine involved basic labor, communal meals, and restricted family visits, constrained by Indonesia's stringent security protocols for high-profile death row cases.^[31] In the years following his incarceration, Chan underwent a profound religious transformation, converting to Christianity around 2006-2007 and dedicating himself to spiritual study within the prison confines.^[32] He established and led Bible study classes for fellow inmates, conducting weekly services that included preaching, worship leading, and evangelism efforts aimed at rehabilitating prisoners through faith-based counseling.^[1] ^[32] By 2010, Chan had assumed the role of informal pastor for Kerobokan's Christian congregation, collaborating with external ministries to distribute religious materials and organize prayer groups, which reportedly grew to include dozens of participants amid the prison's multicultural inmate population.^[15] His activities extended to mentoring younger offenders, emphasizing personal accountability and moral reform, though Indonesian authorities monitored these gatherings closely due to concerns over organized inmate influence.^[33] Chan's commitment culminated in his ordination as a Christian minister on February 21, 2015, in the prison chapel, officiated by visiting pastors after six years of self-directed theological study using smuggled Bibles and correspondence courses.^[33] ^[6] Just days before his execution transfer, on April 20, 2015, he married his Indonesian fiancée, Febyanti Herewila, in a brief ceremony inside Kerobokan, symbolizing his stabilized personal life amid ongoing legal appeals.^[34] Throughout his decade in the facility, Chan maintained correspondence with Australian supporters and family, who described his evolving role as a source of hope for other inmates, despite the psychological toll of impending execution.^[35]

Efforts at Rehabilitation and Religious Conversion

During his nearly decade-long imprisonment in Kerobokan Prison, Andrew Chan underwent a profound religious conversion to Christianity, initially while in solitary confinement following his conviction.^[32] This transformation prompted him to pursue theological studies, culminating in his ordination as a Christian minister in February 2015 after six years of self-directed learning, during a private ceremony attended by family and pastors.^[33]^[35] As a newly ordained pastor, Chan led weekly English-language church services in the prison chapel, fostering a growing Christian congregation among inmates and emphasizing personal redemption through faith.^[3] He mentored fellow prisoners, including encouraging others' conversions—such as that of Indonesian inmate Arif, whom Chan prayed with and discipled—and integrated biblical teachings into daily prison life, viewing his cell as a makeshift "Bible college." Chan's faith also sustained him through personal milestones, including his 2014 marriage to Indonesian fiancée Febyanti Naluyfari inside the prison.^[36] In parallel with his religious leadership, Chan contributed to broader rehabilitation initiatives within Kerobokan, collaborating with fellow Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran to establish programs such as computer training, art classes, a cooking school, yoga, dance, and reflexology sessions aimed at skill-building and behavioral reform among inmates.^[37] These efforts, initiated by the pair, were credited by prison visitors and counselors with demonstrating genuine personal change, with Chan's brother Michael publicly describing him as fully rehabilitated and a model for others on Indonesian television in March 2015.^[38]^[39] Independent counselors familiar with drug recovery affirmed the authenticity of these transformations, noting Chan's shift from ringleader to positive influencer.^[39]

International Appeals and Clemency Bids

In December 2014, Andrew Chan, alongside Myuran Sukumaran, submitted formal clemency petitions to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, highlighting their claimed rehabilitation, religious conversion to Christianity, and contributions to prison life, such as Chan's role in leading church services and vocational training programs.^[40]^[41] Widodo rejected Sukumaran's plea on January 8, 2015, citing the severity of heroin trafficking offenses, and Chan's on January 22, 2015, maintaining Indonesia's policy of no clemency for drug-related death sentences amid a national crackdown that saw dozens of similar rejections.^[41]^[40]^[42] The duo subsequently pursued a rare judicial review in Jakarta's South Jakarta District Court, arguing procedural flaws in Widodo's clemency decision, including insufficient consideration of their personal transformations and international human rights standards; the court dismissed the challenge on April 6, 2015, affirming the president's discretionary authority under Indonesian law.^[43]^[44] Australia lodged over 50 formal clemency appeals on their behalf, including proposals for a prisoner swap, which Indonesia rejected as incompatible with its legal framework.^[45] Australian diplomatic efforts intensified, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop making an emotional public plea for mercy on February 11, 2015, emphasizing the men's youth at arrest (Chan was 21) and rehabilitation evidence, joined by opposition counterpart Tanya Plibersek.^[46] All living former Australian prime ministers—Kevin Rudd, John Howard, Julia Gillard, Malcolm Fraser, Paul Keating, and Bob Hawke—issued a unified appeal on February 17, 2015, urging Widodo to commute the sentences in light of bilateral ties and humanitarian grounds.^[47] Chan's brother, Michael, appeared on Indonesian national television on March 1, 2015, personally begging Widodo for clemency, citing family hardship and Andrew's spiritual growth.^[48] These bids drew limited broader international support, with isolated condemnations from entities like France over the death penalty's application, but faced skepticism in Indonesia due to perceived inconsistencies in Australia's stance on capital punishment for terrorism cases, such as the Bali bombers.^[49]^[50]

Execution and Final Days

Transfer to Execution Site, April 2015

On 4 March 2015, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the Australian ringleaders of the Bali Nine, were transferred from Kerobokan Prison in Bali to Nusakambangan Island in Central Java, Indonesia's primary execution site housing multiple high-security prisons.^[51] The move occurred early in the morning via armored police vehicles, followed by air transport, as part of a group transfer that included six other foreign nationals—two Filipinos, one Brazilian, one Vietnamese, and two Indonesians—also slated for execution by firing squad for drug-related offenses.^[52] ^[53] Indonesian authorities cited the need to prepare for imminent executions under the country's strict narcotics laws, which mandate the death penalty for trafficking significant quantities of heroin, as in the Bali Nine case involving over 8 kilograms.^[54] The transfer drew immediate diplomatic backlash from Australia, where Prime Minister Tony Abbott described it as a "dark day" and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop lodged a formal complaint, arguing the process lacked transparency and urging clemency based on the men's decade-long rehabilitation efforts in prison.^[53] ^[54] Indonesian officials, however, maintained that the decision aligned with national sovereignty and judicial finality, rejecting prisoner swaps or commutations as incompatible with their anti-drug stance, which views heroin smuggling as a grave threat warranting capital punishment to deter organized crime.^[51] Chan, who had converted to Christianity and led prison ministry programs, reportedly remained composed during the relocation, focusing on spiritual preparation alongside Sukumaran, though specific details of their demeanor were limited by restricted media access to the secure convoy.^[52] Upon arrival at Nusakambangan, often dubbed Indonesia's "execution island" due to its history of housing death row inmates, Chan and Sukumaran were isolated in separate facilities—Chan at Narkotika Penitentiary and Sukumaran at another—pending final execution orders, with Indonesian law requiring at least 72 hours' notice before firing squads are deployed.^[55] This site transfer marked the irreversible phase toward enforcement of their 2006 death sentences, upheld despite multiple appeals, as Indonesia accelerated executions amid domestic pressure to combat drug syndicates.^[53]

Last-Minute Developments

On 25 April 2015, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were informed by Indonesian authorities of their impending execution within a minimum of 72 hours, prompting final preparations on Nusakambangan Island.^[56] This notification followed the rejection of clemency pleas by President Joko Widodo, with Chan maintaining composure amid heightened international diplomatic efforts from Australia. Two days later, on 27 April 2015, Chan married his Indonesian fiancée, Febyanti Herewila, a pastor he had met through prison counseling, in a brief ceremony at Besi Prison on Nusakambangan Island.^[57] ^[58] The union, witnessed by family and prison officials, reflected Chan's deepened Christian faith, as he had been ordained a pastor during his imprisonment and continued leading Bible studies and services for fellow inmates even in these final days.^[15] On 28 April, Chan received final visits from his family, who reported his resolve to face the end with dignity.^[59] In the hours leading to the execution early on 29 April 2015, Chan participated in communal prayer sessions with other condemned prisoners, singing hymns including "Amazing Grace" and "Bless the Lord O My Soul" as they walked to the firing site.^[60] He refused a blindfold, shook hands with prison wardens, and exchanged words of mutual encouragement with supporting priest Father Charlie Burrows, emphasizing personal growth and faith.^[61] These actions underscored Chan's reported transformation into a spiritual leader, consistent with accounts from prison chaplains of his conducting services and mentoring others up to the end.^[60]

Execution by Firing Squad, 29 April 2015

On the early morning of 29 April 2015, Andrew Chan was executed by firing squad on Nusakambangan Island in Central Java, Indonesia, alongside Myuran Sukumaran and six other foreign nationals convicted of drug trafficking.^[62]^[60] The executions occurred at approximately 00:35 local time (03:35 AEST), with the prisoners bound to wooden stakes in a clearing surrounded by dense forest.^[63] Each convict had a white target cloth tied over their heart, and they were not blindfolded, allowing them to face the 12-member firing squad positioned about eight meters away.^[63] In their final moments, Chan and the others demonstrated composure, singing the hymn Amazing Grace and reciting prayers led by Chan, who had become an ordained Christian minister during his imprisonment.^[60]^[61] Chan hugged fellow inmates goodbye, telling them, "It's been great to know you, mate," and shook hands with prison wardens before walking to the execution site without assistance.^[64]^[61] Three squad members used blank rounds, as per Indonesian protocol, though the attorney general confirmed all shots struck their targets accurately.^[63] The fusillade lasted seconds, and Chan was declared dead three minutes later by medical personnel; no coup de grâce was required.^[63] His body was transported by ambulance to a hospital morgue on the island, then flown to Jakarta for autopsy and preparation, before repatriation to Sydney, Australia, where he was buried on 8 May 2015.^[62]^[65] The executions proceeded despite international protests, with Indonesia's Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo stating they were conducted "humanely" in line with national law.^[63]

Controversies

Death Penalty Debate: Deterrence vs. Human Rights Claims

Indonesian authorities defended the execution of Andrew Chan, convicted of leading the Bali Nine's attempt to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin into Australia in 2005, as a necessary deterrent against drug trafficking, arguing that severe penalties protect society from the devastating impacts of narcotics.^[66] Proponents of capital punishment for drug offenses, including officials in Indonesia and Singapore, assert both specific deterrence—permanently incapacitating offenders—and general deterrence, by instilling fear in potential traffickers to reduce smuggling attempts.^[67] Singapore, which mandates death for trafficking over 15 grams of heroin, attributes its low drug abuse rates (around 0.005% prevalence in 2022) partly to executions, claiming they contribute to a multifaceted enforcement strategy yielding fewer seizures per capita compared to neighbors.^[67] ^[68] However, empirical studies provide limited support for the deterrent effect of executions on drug trafficking. Analyses of Indonesian data from 2000–2018, including periods of heightened executions like the 2015 wave involving Chan, show no statistically significant decline in drug arrests or seizures attributable to capital punishment, with trafficking volumes fluctuating due to interdiction efforts rather than fear of death.^[69] ^[70] Comparative research across Southeast Asia indicates that countries without mandatory death for drugs, such as Thailand post-2018 reforms, have not seen trafficking surges, while execution-heavy regimes like Indonesia report persistent high caseloads—over 100 death sentences for drugs annually in recent years—suggesting marginal general deterrence at best.^[68] ^[71] Critics, including criminologists, note that drug syndicates often involve coerced mules like some Bali Nine members, who face low perceived execution risk due to rare enforcement against kingpins, undermining claims of broad deterrence.^[72] Calls for rigorous, Indonesia-specific longitudinal studies persist, as existing data fail to isolate executions from confounding factors like border controls.^[73] Opponents frame the death penalty for drug offenses, including Chan's case, as a violation of international human rights standards, arguing it constitutes cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment disproportionate to non-homicidal crimes.^[74] The UN Human Rights Committee interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a party, as reserving death for only the "most serious" offenses involving intentional killing, excluding drug trafficking regardless of quantity or leadership role.^[75] Amnesty International, opposing capital punishment universally, documented at least 375 drug-related death sentences globally in 2023, contending such penalties exacerbate miscarriages of justice in under-resourced systems and ignore rehabilitation potential, as evidenced by Chan's claimed prison transformation.^[74] ^[71] Australia's diplomatic protests invoked these norms, highlighting tensions between sovereignty and universal rights, though Indonesian public opinion polls show 18% support retention specifically for drug deterrence, reflecting cultural views prioritizing communal security over individual clemency.^[76] ^[77] Despite advocacy from human rights groups, empirical critiques of deterrence weaken reform momentum in retentionist states, where executions persist amid unproven efficacy.^[78]

Questions of Personal Responsibility and Rehabilitation Authenticity

Andrew Chan served as the primary organizer of the Bali Nine drug trafficking syndicate, recruiting at least eight other Australians—many in their late teens and early twenties—and coordinating their attempt to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia on April 17, 2005, by concealing the drugs in body belts worn by the mules.^[1] As the leader, Chan directed logistics, including travel arrangements and instructions for the couriers, fully aware of Indonesia's severe penalties for drug offenses, which include mandatory death sentences for quantities exceeding five kilograms under Article 114 of the Narcotics Law.^[1] During the initial trial phase, Chan and co-ringleader Myuran Sukumaran neither pleaded guilty nor expressed remorse, instead maintaining claims of innocence that courts rejected as evasive, contributing to their portrayal as unrepentant architects of a scheme that risked widespread harm through heroin distribution in Australia.^[5] Critics of clemency efforts emphasized Chan's culpability in exploiting vulnerable recruits, such as 19-year-old Martin Stephens and 20-year-old Matthew Norman, whom he enticed with promises of quick money despite their limited criminal experience, underscoring a failure to mitigate the foreseeable consequences of his leadership in a premeditated operation that evaded no reasonable expectation of severe punishment.^[79] Chan later acknowledged the gravity of his actions in personal writings, including a 2015 letter to his 15-year-old self detailing the "agonising consequences" of poor choices leading to his incarceration and impending execution, signaling an acceptance of personal accountability after nearly a decade in prison.^[80] Regarding rehabilitation, Chan converted to Christianity following his 2006 death sentence, undergoing solitary confinement where he reportedly studied the Bible intensively, emerging to establish and lead weekly church services in Kerobokan Prison, baptize over 200 inmates, and co-found a peer-led drug rehabilitation program with Sukumaran that emphasized counseling and vocational training for fellow prisoners.^[81] ^[7] He was ordained as a pastor on April 5, 2015, by a group of Australian and Indonesian clergy, who cited his sustained ministry—conducted consistently for years—as evidence of transformative remorse, with prison counselors attesting that such efforts exceeded mere performative acts and reflected authentic behavioral change unlikely to be feigned over a decade.^[6] ^[39] Skepticism about the sincerity of Chan's rehabilitation persists among some observers, who note its timing post-sentencing and alignment with clemency campaigns, potentially incentivized by survival rather than intrinsic moral reckoning, especially given the absence of comparable reform efforts prior to arrest when Chan operated freely as a Sydney-based drug supplier.^[5] Indonesian authorities dismissed rehabilitation claims in rejecting his January 2015 clemency plea, prioritizing retributive justice for the crime's scale over post-conviction conduct, while Australian advocates, including family members, countered with testimonies of Chan's genuine faith journey, evidenced by his influence on inmates like former imam Arif who converted under his guidance.^[82] ^[83] Empirical indicators of authenticity include the program's reported success in reducing recidivism among participants and Chan's voluntary anti-drug advocacy, such as featuring in documentaries, though ultimate verification remains subjective absent pre-prison counterfactuals.^[7] ^[84]

Geopolitical Tensions with Australia

The execution of Andrew Chan on April 29, 2015, alongside Myuran Sukumaran and six other foreign nationals, intensified diplomatic strains between Australia and Indonesia, rooted in conflicting views on capital punishment for drug offenses. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had mounted sustained appeals for clemency, emphasizing claims of rehabilitation and procedural irregularities, but Indonesian President Joko Widodo rejected them on March 30, 2015, prioritizing Indonesia's anti-narcotics policy that equates heroin trafficking with threats warranting the death penalty.^[85] In response, Australia immediately recalled its ambassador to Jakarta, Paul Grigson, for consultations—the first such recall over an executed citizen—and suspended all ministerial visits to Indonesia indefinitely.^[85] Bishop warned of unspecified "consequences," while lodging a formal protest over the prisoners' treatment during their March 2015 transfer to Nusakambangan island, where conditions included reported physical restraints and media exposure.^[86] Public sentiment in Australia fueled the tensions, with vigils across major cities and media portraying the executions as a "dark day" in bilateral history, amplifying perceptions of Indonesian intransigence despite Australia's initial 2005 tip-off to authorities via the Australian Federal Police that enabled the Bali Nine arrests.^[87] Abbott urged restraint to safeguard broader ties, including defense pacts like the 2006 Lombok Treaty and counterterrorism cooperation, acknowledging Indonesia's strategic proximity and economic weight.^[88] Indonesian officials, conversely, defended the executions as upholding sovereignty and deterrence, dismissing foreign interference as hypocritical given Australia's own strict drug laws and the scale of the 8.3-kilogram heroin seizure linked to Chan.^[88] Analysts highlighted irreconcilable differences—Australia's growing sympathy for rehabilitation narratives versus Indonesia's framing of drug syndicates as existential threats—but foresaw limited long-term rupture due to mutual dependencies, with ties normalizing through subsequent high-level engagements.^[88]^[86]

Impact and Legacy

Effects on Surviving Bali Nine Members

The executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran on 29 April 2015 left the seven surviving Bali Nine members—originally sentenced to life imprisonment—continuing their incarceration in Indonesia's Kerobokan Prison amid heightened emotional strain from the loss of their co-accused and the ongoing threat of similar fates.^[89] This period intensified the psychological toll of their confinement, with experts noting that the cumulative stress from witnessing the executions, harsh prison conditions, and prolonged uncertainty could result in long-term health deterioration, including shortened lifespans.^[89] Renae Lawrence, the group's sole female member, received parole on 28 November 2018 after demonstrating rehabilitation through prison programs, leading to her deportation and supervised release in Australia.^[90] Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen succumbed to cancer on 1 May 2018 while still imprisoned, an outcome potentially exacerbated by years of incarceration-related stress though direct causation remains unverified in medical records.^[90] The remaining five members—Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens—endured nearly a decade more in Indonesian custody before repatriation to Australia on 15 December 2024 under a bilateral prisoner transfer agreement, allowing them to complete life sentences domestically with parole eligibility.^[91]^[92] Upon return, they expressed relief and happiness at reuniting with families after 19 years, signaling a shift toward reintegration though complicated by the enduring stigma of their crimes and institutional memories of the 2015 events.^[93]^[94] The executions indirectly influenced their trajectories by amplifying diplomatic pressures that facilitated these transfers, yet their core sentences reflected Indonesia's unchanged stance on drug offenses post-2015.^[2]

Broader Lessons on Drug Trafficking Enforcement

The execution of Andrew Chan as the ringleader of the Bali Nine underscored ongoing debates regarding the deterrent value of capital punishment in drug trafficking enforcement. Indonesian officials, including President Joko Widodo, have defended such measures as essential to combating a domestic drug crisis that purportedly claims up to 50 lives daily, positioning executions as a sovereign tool to protect national interests against foreign smuggling attempts.^[1] ^[95] However, global assessments of the death penalty for drug offenses reveal no credible empirical evidence of its capacity to suppress trafficking volumes, with illicit markets demonstrating resilience through route diversification and recruitment of new operatives despite executions in countries like Indonesia, China, and Iran.^[96] In Indonesia, where 94% of death sentences issued since 2015 pertain to drug crimes, rigorous public surveys indicate minimal faith in capital punishment's preventive efficacy, with only 9% of respondents identifying increased executions as the most effective anti-drug strategy and 18% citing deterrence as a rationale for retention.^[78] ^[97] ^[98] Empirical research on deterrence remains limited, hampered by data gaps on offender decision-making and trafficking adaptations, but available analyses suggest that high-profit incentives and socioeconomic vulnerabilities among low-level couriers—such as those in the Bali Nine operation—override perceived risks of severe penalties.^[99] ^[100] This points to a core enforcement lesson: punitive focus on endpoint seizures and executions often fails to dismantle upstream syndicates, as evidenced by persistent heroin flows post-2015 without attributable declines linked to the Bali Nine cases.^[96] The Bali Nine incident further illustrates the complexities of transnational enforcement, where preemptive intelligence sharing—such as Australia's tip-off to Indonesian authorities in 2005—successfully intercepted 8.3 kilograms of heroin but exposed vulnerabilities in mule-based operations and strained bilateral relations over sentencing disparities.^[101] Effective strategies thus demand integrated approaches beyond capital sanctions, emphasizing corruption mitigation in transit hubs, demand reduction in consumer markets like Australia, and targeted disruption of financial networks to address causal drivers rather than symptomatic carriers.^[102] Such multifaceted enforcement, informed by verifiable offender pathways rather than assumed deterrence, offers greater potential for reducing trafficking volumes than isolated reliance on executions.^[99]

References

[1]
Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - BBC
Apr 29, 2015 · Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have been executed in Indonesia for drug-smuggling. In 2006, a court found them to be the leaders of a group of ...
[2]
Five 'Bali Nine' ring members return to Australia after 19 years in ...
Dec 15, 2024 · The men, who flew home on Sunday, were among nine people arrested in 2005 trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin out of the Indonesian resort ...Missing: quantity | Show results with:quantity
[3]
Profiles: Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - ABC News
Mar 3, 2015 · He grew up in Enfield in Sydney's south-west and attended Homebush Boys High School before leaving school in Year 10. Although he and Sukumaran ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
[4]
Obituary: Andrew Chan, 1984-2015 - The Sydney Morning Herald
Apr 29, 2015 · Andrew grew up in in Enfield and went to Homebush Boys High School, where he was considered a trickster and a joker, but also a bully.
[5]
Bali Nine: decade of turmoil for Andrew Chan and Myuran ...
Apr 26, 2015 · Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were granted 72 hours' notice, after which - barring an unlikely reprieve - they will be tied to a pole on the jungle island ...
[6]
DEATH ROW PRISONER ANDREW CHAN IS ORDAINED A ...
Apr 8, 2015 · A small group of family and pastors gathered for the ordination of Andrew Chan, former heroin smuggling “ringleader”, as a Christian minister.
[7]
Indonesia Executes Drug Smuggler Whose Faith Inspired Hillsong's ...
One of the prisoners, Andrew Chan, studied theology and was ordained in February, days after his clemency plea was rejected. Just before their execution, the ...
[8]
A grim milestone: Ten years since Andrew and Myuran were executed
Exactly ten years ago, on 29 April 2015, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in Indonesia, alongside six other men.
[9]
Bali 9's Andrew Chan was mastermind of ANOTHER deal that went ...
Dec 11, 2014 · Bali Nine drug kingpin Andrew Chan, who is facing death by firing squad in Indonesia, masterminded another international heroin smuggling attempt out of Hong ...
[10]
Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran execution date scheduled
Apr 27, 2015 · Bali nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were handed their final execution notices over the weekend, due to take place at midnight on 29th
[11]
https://www.christiantoday.com/news/andrew-chan-my-life-is-a-perfect-example-of-an-absolute-waste
[12]
Andrew Chan - Obituaries Australia
Apr 29, 2015 · Andrew Chan was born in Sydney on January 12, 1984, the youngest child of Ken and Helen Chan, migrants from China who married in Sydney and made ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[13]
Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran executed
Apr 28, 2015 · The doomed Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were put to death after spending 10 years on death row at Bali's Kerobokan prison.<|control11|><|separator|>
[14]
Life Summary - Andrew Chan - Obituaries Australia
Born. 12 January, 1984 · Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ; Died. 29 April, 2015 (aged 31) Indonesia ; Cause of Death. executed ; Cultural Heritage. Chinese.Missing: family | Show results with:family
[15]
Keeping Andrew's legacy alive | The Salvation Army Australia
Dec 9, 2016 · Feby Chan, wife of Andrew Chan who was executed in Indonesia last year, talks to us about time with Andrew, and the heartache, anger, ...
[16]
Andrew Chan: Death, drugs and rugby league - The Advertiser
Apr 28, 2015 · About his family and God and his plans to build an orphanage. How he was addicted to heroin at just 14. How he woke in prison one morning on his ...
[17]
The Straits Times, 16 February 2006 - NLB eResources
Feb 16, 2006 · 278 2006-02-16 6 Andrew Chan, 22 >> Sentenced to death From Sydney "Godfather" of the Bali Nine He worked for a catering company with ...Missing: chef | Show results with:chef
[18]
Bali Nine: From black sheep in the family to drug ring leaders ...
Mar 4, 2015 · Chan, now 31, had dabbled with drugs as a teenager, and was a self-confessed "black sheep" in his family of Cantonese-speaking migrants from ...<|separator|>
[19]
Who are the Bali Nine? What did they do? - ABC News
Nov 25, 2024 · In 2005, nine Australians were arrested as part of a plot to smuggle heroin out of Bali. At the time, the drug haul had an estimated street value of about $4 ...Missing: quantity | Show results with:quantity
[20]
Bali Nine: Timeline of key events - ABC News
Feb 12, 2015 · Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have been executed by firing squad for their role in a 2005 heroin smuggling plot. Look back at the key events ...Missing: organizing | Show results with:organizing
[21]
Bali Nine: timeline of the convicted Australian drug smugglers' story
Apr 25, 2015 · 22 April: Indonesian police say Andrew Chan was the “godfather” of the operation. 26 April: Two of the couriers say Chan threatened them with ...
[22]
How Bali Nine's families found out about arrests | news.com.au
Mar 26, 2018 · Andrew Chan was just 21 when he was arrested for his role in the drug operation. The first letter was written on April 8, 2005. Addressed to the ...
[23]
Rachel Diaz: Teenage 'Bali 9' heroin mule reveals Andrew Chan's ...
Feb 2, 2018 · Teenage heroin mule reveals how executed Bali 9 kingpin Andrew Chan threatened her during foreign prison hell. RACHEL Diaz was arrested as she ...
[24]
Nine arrested in Bali drug bust - ABC News
Apr 17, 2005 · Nine Australians have been arrested in Bali on suspicion of attempting to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin out of Indonesia.
[25]
Key dates in the Bali Nine saga | SBS News
April 8 to 12 - Australian Federal Police tip off Indonesian counterparts ... April 17 - Andrew Chan and four others arrested at Denpasar Airport ...
[26]
AFP tip-off a week before Bali nine arrests - The Age
Oct 19, 2005 · The Australian Federal Police tipped off Indonesian authorities at least a week before the arrest of the Bali Nine, a Bali court was told today.
[27]
Australia police defend Bali Nine operation - BBC News
May 4, 2015 · The eight men and one woman were arrested in April 2005 at an airport and hotel in Bali, Indonesia after a tip-off from Australian police.
[28]
2 Australians sentenced to die in 'Bali Nine' case
Feb 14, 2006 · Judge Arief Supratmansaid a panel of three judges at the Denpasar District Court found Chan guilty of "exporting heroin in an organized ring ...Missing: proceedings | Show results with:proceedings
[29]
Key dates in the Bali Nine case | SBS News
April 17 - Andrew Chan and four others arrested at Denpasar Airport; Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Renae Lawrence and Martin Stephens have 8.3kg of heroin ...Missing: conviction facts
[30]
VIDEO: Life in Kerobokan - ABC News
Jun 13, 2017 · Foreign Correspondent discovers a weirdly functioning community where prisoners and a tiny contingent of guards usually look out for each other.
[31]
Bali Nine prisoner Andrew Chan's family visit Kerobokan ahead of ...
Feb 2, 2015 · Family members of Bali Nine prisoner Andrew Chan visited Kerobokan prison on Monday ahead of a decision by the courts on a last ditch appeal.
[32]
Following Jesus on death row - Eternity News
Aug 3, 2013 · Following his conversion while in solitary confinement, Andrew Chan is now a man on a mission from the Lord. Andrew Chan is in Kerobokan prison ...
[33]
In the shadow of death, Andrew Chan is ordained a minister
Mar 1, 2015 · In the chapel in Kerobokan prison one month ago, a small group of family and pastors gathered for the ordination of Andrew Chan, former heroin ...
[34]
Bali Nine: who were they? - The Guardian
Nov 30, 2024 · Chan became a committed Christian in prison and married his fiancee, Febyanti Herewila, days before his death. He was executed by firing squad ...Missing: education early
[35]
Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan ordained a Christian minister
Mar 2, 2015 · Convicted Bali Nine drug smuggler Andrew Chan who turned to God after being handed a death sentence in Indonesia has been ordained as a Christian minister.Missing: conversion | Show results with:conversion
[36]
Andrew Chan: \'My life is a perfect example of an absolute waste\'
Apr 30, 2015 · Chan converted to Christianity in prison, studied theology and was eventually ordained a minister earlier this year. He married his fiancée, ...
[37]
Bali Nine: crowd pleads for lives of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew ...
Jan 30, 2015 · On the initiative of Chan, 31 and Sukumaran, 33, the prison now has a computer room, cooking school and classes in yoga, dance, reflexology ...
[38]
Bali Nine: Andrew Chan has been rehabilitated, brother tells ...
Mar 1, 2015 · ... Bali Nine drug smuggler Andrew Chan, on Indonesian TV, saying he and Myuran Sukumaran are a great example of rehabilitation. Michael appears ...
[39]
Rehab of Chan and Sukumaran real, say counsellors | SBS News
Feb 26, 2015 · Two men with first-hand experience of drug crime and recovery aren't questioning the rehabilitation of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
[40]
Andrew Chan of Bali Nine drug trafficking ring has clemency appeal ...
Jan 22, 2015 · Both were arrested in Indonesia and sentenced to death by firing squad in 2006. One of Chan's high profile supporters is Dougie Mandagi ...
[41]
'Bali Nine' man loses bid for Indonesian clemency - BBC News
Jan 8, 2015 · Myuran Sukumaran, one of the "Bali Nine" Australians jailed in Indonesia for drug smuggling, loses his final bid to escape execution.Missing: international | Show results with:international
[42]
Bali Nine: Indonesian president defends refusal to grant clemency to ...
Feb 11, 2015 · Bali Nine: Indonesian president defends refusal to grant clemency to Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran and other drug criminals. By Indonesia ...
[43]
Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran lose bid to ...
Apr 6, 2015 · Bali Nine pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran lose bid to challenge clemency decision ... A Jakarta court has thrown out a bid by Myuran ...
[44]
Indonesia court rejects death row Australians' appeal - Al Jazeera
Apr 6, 2015 · An Indonesian court has rejected a last-ditch appeal against imminent execution by two Australian drug smugglers. Andrew Chan and Myuran ...
[45]
Executions trigger international anger - AFR
Apr 26, 2015 · Clemency bids. President Widodo has rejected Australia's proposal for a prisoner swap and more than 50 appeals for clemency for Chan, 31, and ...<|separator|>
[46]
Bali Nine: Julie Bishop, Tanya Plibersek plead for clemency for ...
Feb 11, 2015 · Bali Nine: Julie Bishop, Tanya Plibersek plead for clemency for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. By James Bennett and Louise Yaxley · Topic ...
[47]
Ex-Australian PMs make appeal over Bali Nine drug pair - BBC News
Feb 17, 2015 · In 2006 a court ruled that Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran had recruited the others and paid their costs. They were sentenced to death. The ...
[48]
Bali Nine: Andrew Chan's brother, Michael, appeals to president ...
Mar 1, 2015 · The brother of an Australian facing imminent execution in Indonesia has appealed on national television for president Joko Widodo to spare the drug smuggler's ...
[49]
Bali Nine: Indonesia condemned over death penalty - BBC News
Apr 27, 2015 · Andrew Chan, left, and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death in 2006. France and Australia have condemned the death penalty as executions ...
[50]
Bali Nine: Australia's clemency pleas weakened by fickleness on ...
Apr 29, 2015 · Lawyer for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran says Australia applauded the death penalty for Bali bombers so credibility 'a little tarnished'
[51]
Bali Nine Australians Chan and Sukumaran moved to execution site
Mar 4, 2015 · Two Australian men convicted of leading the Bali Nine drug smuggling ring have been moved to the Indonesian island where they are due to be executed.
[52]
Bali Nine: Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran transferred to ...
Mar 3, 2015 · Bali Nine: Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran transferred to Indonesia's 'death island', in pictures · Police wait for prisoners to be moved.
[53]
Australia lodges formal complaint over Bali 9 transfer - CNN
Mar 4, 2015 · Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were being taken from Kerobokan prison in Bali to Nusakambangan island in Central Java, where they will be held ...Missing: capture details
[54]
Bali Nine duo arrive on execution island amid Australian pleas for ...
Mar 4, 2015 · Australian foreign minister calls death sentence for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran 'unacceptable and unthinking' as Tony Abbott admits Indonesia's position ...Missing: April | Show results with:April
[55]
Indonesia foresees diplomatic strain as Bali Nine pair arrive on ...
Mar 4, 2015 · Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran taken to Nusa Kambangan, where they will be granted 72 hours' notice before facing a firing ...Missing: Nusakambangan | Show results with:Nusakambangan
[56]
Bali Nine pair given 72 hours' notice of execution - The Guardian
Apr 25, 2015 · The Bali Nine pair said they were given notice on Saturday of Indonesia's intention to execute them in a minimum of 72 hours, during a meeting on Nusakambangan ...
[57]
Andrew Chan marries ahead of expected execution - ABC News
Apr 27, 2015 · Convicted Bali Nine drug smuggler Andrew Chan has married his fiancee at Besi prison on Nusakambangan Island, ahead of his expected execution in coming days.Missing: Feby Brian
[58]
Australian death-row drug trafficker Andrew Chan marries pastor ...
Chan, 31, married his Indonesian girlfriend Febyanti Herewila in a ceremony on Nusakambangan Island, home to several high-security prisons, ...
[59]
Families say final goodbye before Indonesia executions - France 24
Apr 28, 2015 · Indonesia made final preparations Tuesday to execute eight foreigners by firing squad, as weeping family members paid last visits to their loved ones.
[60]
Indonesia executions: prisoners sang Amazing Grace in last moments
Apr 29, 2015 · ... Andrew Chan, Nigerian Okwuduli Oyatanze and. Bali Nine pair among eight executed for drug offences in Indonesia. Read more. Pastor Karina de ...Missing: minute | Show results with:minute
[61]
'Very strong' Chan and Sukumaran 'died a respectful death' says priest
Apr 29, 2015 · Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were determined to die with dignity to avoid causing their parents unnecessary distress.
[62]
Bali Nine: Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran executed by ...
Apr 28, 2015 · Chan and Sukumaran, members of the so-called Bali Nine, were sentenced to death in 2006 after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle more ...
[63]
Indonesia executions: bodies of Andrew Chan and Myuran ...
Apr 29, 2015 · The execution time was 00.35am. The prisoners were declared dead three minutes later. All shots were fired accurately, Prasetyo said.
[64]
Bali 9 Andrew Chan's last words to priest before execution - Daily Mail
Apr 30, 2015 · 'It's been great to know you mate': Andrew Chan's last words to a priest before he hugged all the death row inmates and left to be shot dead.
[65]
Andrew Chan's self-written eulogy read at funeral – video | Bali Nine
May 8, 2015 · ... 2015 01.32 EDT. Share. Explore more on these topics. Bali Nine · Indonesia ... execution – video. Sukumaran and Chan have been the most dignified ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[66]
Can Death Penalty against Drug Criminals be justified?
The main argument is that death penalty has a deterrent effect preventing potential offender to commit (drug) offenses. Having realized such a severe punishment ...
[67]
[PDF] Capital Punishment in Singapore: A Critical Analysis of State ...
Application of the death penalty is consistently and actively extolled as an effective deterrence to drug-related crimes and low rates of drug use in Singapore ...
[68]
Singapore's death penalty for drug trafficking - Monash University
Oct 9, 2023 · Increasing the number of executions is generally not thought to be an effective measure to reduce violent crime or drug trafficking …The ...
[69]
There's No Evidence that the Death Penalty Acts as a Deterrent
Apr 27, 2015 · The issue is not whether the death penalty deters some―if only a few―people where the threat of a lesser punishment would not.Missing: human | Show results with:human
[70]
[PDF] Application of the Death Penalty in Narcotics Crime Cases
Jan 10, 2025 · However, despite claims that the death penalty can reduce drug trafficking, empirical evidence on its effectiveness in decreasing narcotics ...<|separator|>
[71]
The Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Global Overview 2023
Confirmed death sentences for drug offences increased by more than 20% from 2022. A minimum of 375 people were sentenced to death for drug offences, of which ...
[72]
The Bali Nine, and how not to argue for the death penalty
Feb 3, 2015 · Two relatively young Australian men, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, are going to be killed by the Indonesian state. They will not be the first to die this ...
[73]
The Feasibility of Systematic Research on the Deterrent Effects of ...
Jun 18, 2019 · This report assesses the feasibility of conducting systematic empirical research on the deterrent effects of the death penalty on drug and other ...Missing: evidence | Show results with:evidence
[74]
The death penalty for drug related offences - Amnesty International
Oct 10, 2023 · The use of the death penalty for drug-related offences is unlawful under international human rights law and standards.
[75]
[PDF] A/79/276 - General Assembly - the United Nations
Aug 5, 2024 · UN experts condemn continued use of death penalty for drug-related crimes”, 28 April 2023;. Amnesty International, “Case on death-row detainees ...
[76]
"The Bali Nine, Capital Punishment and Australia's Obligation to ...
There are three central arguments against capital punishment based in international human rights law: that it violates the right to life; that it contravenes ...
[77]
[PDF] Investigating Attitudes to the Death Penalty in Indonesia
Around a third (36%) said the death penalty should be retained to deter murder, and a fifth (18%) said it should be retained to deter drug trafficking. Just ...
[78]
Diversion or death? The moral framework shaping bifurcated ...
Sep 13, 2024 · In Indonesia, 94% of known death sentences are for drug offences, accounting for about 52% of people on death row (Harm Reduction International, ...
[79]
Is the AFP Partly Responsible For the Deaths of Chan and ...
May 9, 2020 · Australians were outraged by the execution of 'Bali Nine' members Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in Indonesia on 29 April this year.
[80]
Chan writes of agony in letter to teenage self | SBS News
Mar 8, 2015 · Bali Nine drug smuggler Andrew Chan has written a letter to himself aged 15, in which he details the agonising consequences of his choices.Missing: personal | Show results with:personal<|separator|>
[81]
Bali Nine: Funeral for Andrew Chan held in Sydney - ABC News
May 7, 2015 · Chan expressed remorse for his crimes and, together with Sukumaran, he established a drug rehabilitation program for fellow inmates at the ...
[82]
Bali Nine member Andrew Chan has clemency plea rejected
Jan 21, 2015 · "I hope that the evidence of genuine remorse, of genuine rehabilitation, means that even at this late stage pleas for clemency might be accepted ...Missing: authenticity | Show results with:authenticity
[83]
Drug peddler's jail cell became his "Bible college", after ... - Salt&Light
Nov 7, 2020 · Bali Nine co-ringleader, Andrew Chan, who had converted in prison while awaiting his death sentence, encouraged and prayed for Arif.
[84]
Bali Nine: Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan changed men, say ...
Jan 23, 2015 · "These two have completely rehabilitated themselves and are now in the process of educating and helping a lot of other prisoners get their lives ...
[85]
Bali Nine executions fallout: Australia juggles domestic fury and ...
Apr 28, 2015 · Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop have responded to the deaths of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran with diplomatic retaliation but rhetorical restraint.Missing: tensions | Show results with:tensions
[86]
Indonesia-Australia Relations: A Year After the Executions
May 26, 2016 · Public outrage at the execution of the Bali Nine ringleaders runs into political, diplomatic and economic reality.
[87]
Bali 9 pair's execution 'dark moment' in Australia-Indonesia ...
Apr 29, 2015 · Now the diplomatic ties are under strain once again over today's execution of two Australian nationals despite repeated pleas for mercy from the ...
[88]
Bali Nine executions viewpoints: Are Australia-Indonesia ties at risk?
Apr 29, 2015 · The execution of convicted drug traffickers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in Indonesia has been met with a public outcry in Australia.
[89]
What will happen to the remaining Bali Nine members now? - SBS
Dec 16, 2024 · "It could have a long-lasting health impact and shorten life spans due to the stress they would have endured." With no halfway house, going ...
[90]
'Time for compassion to prevail': could the remaining Bali Nine ...
Nov 30, 2024 · ... Bali Nine were each tied to a stake in a floodlit field on the Indonesian prison island of Nusakambangan. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran ...Missing: recruited | Show results with:recruited<|separator|>
[91]
Remaining Bali Nine members return to Australia - ABC News
Dec 15, 2024 · Andrew Chan was arrested at Denpasar airport and was a ringleader for the smuggling plot alongside Myuran Sukumaran. Chan was 22 when he was ...Missing: proceedings | Show results with:proceedings
[92]
Australia says remaining 'Bali Nine' members have returned from ...
Dec 15, 2024 · The remaining five members of the "Bali Nine" Australian drug ring have returned from Indonesia after diplomatic efforts between the countries this month.<|separator|>
[93]
Bali Nine drug smugglers 'relieved' to be back in Australia - BBC
Dec 15, 2024 · The five remaining members of the infamous "Bali Nine" drug ring say they are "relieved and happy" to be home in Australia, after serving ...
[94]
'Bali Nine': Five freed members of drug gang 'relieved and happy' to ...
Dec 15, 2024 · Chan and Sukumaran were sentenced to death while the other seven were eventually handed a life sentence after an appeal. The only female member ...
[95]
Indonesia defends executions as part of 'war' on drugs - ABC News
Apr 28, 2015 · Indonesia has defended the executions of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, saying although the death penalty is not pleasant it is vital in the war ...
[96]
The Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Global Overview 2018
There is no evidence that the death penalty is an effective deterrent to the drug trade – in fact, according to available estimates, drug markets continue ...
[97]
Indonesians' support for the death penalty declines with more ...
Oct 8, 2021 · Asked which measures would be most effective to reduce drug crime, only 9% of the public suggested increasing death sentences, with only 6% ...
[98]
[PDF] Investigating Attitudes to the Death Penalty in Indonesia
This study investigates attitudes to the death penalty in Indonesia, finding no barrier to abolition, and was commissioned by the Death Penalty Project.Missing: smuggling | Show results with:smuggling
[99]
New research exploring the motivations and pathways to committing ...
Apr 19, 2023 · There are currently no robust deterrence studies on drugs and the death penalty known to be undertaken in Indonesia or elsewhere. This important ...
[100]
Drugs, the Death Penalty and Deterrence in Indonesia
This doctoral research will study the deterrent effects of death sentences and executions on drug offending in Indonesia.Missing: evidence | Show results with:evidence
[101]
The Bali Nine Executions: Indonesia's Perspective
May 7, 2015 · He asserted that Australia should be thankful to Indonesia for foiling the attempted smuggling by Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran of first- ...
[102]
A Call for New Rigorous Empirical Research to Better Inform Drug ...
Jun 26, 2019 · Over the past two decades, Indonesia has executed 24 people for drug trafficking, the majority of the 44 executions during this time, and all of ...