Bali Nine's Lawrence rewarded for informing on co-accused

DENPASAR, Bali - Indonesian prosecutors yesterday demanded a court convict Bali Nine drug mule Renae Lawrence of heroin smuggling and sentence her to 20 years behind bars.

It was the lightest sentence demanded so far by prosecutors in the drug smuggling case.

Prosecutors have demanded life sentences for other defendants and the death penalty for one of the alleged ringleaders.

Prosecutors rewarded Lawrence, the Bali Nine's only female member, because she informed on some of her co-accused after their arrest on the night of April 17 last year.

"She was very cooperative from the start of the investigation and through the trial," prosecutor Puti Indriati told the Denpasar District Court.

Lawrence was among four drug mules arrested at Bali's airport with heroin strapped to their bodies.

She claimed from the beginning that she became a courier only after the alleged bosses of the gang threatened to kill her and her family.

After the recommendation was announced, Lawrence mouthed a silent "thank you".

She then hugged her lawyer Anggia Browne as mother Bev Waterman wiped away tears.

Prosecutor demands are not binding on the trial's judges, who might impose heavier or lighter penalties when they bring down their verdicts next month.

Outside the court, Waterman said she was worried by the prospect that her daughter might have to serve 20 years in jail.

In a prepared statement, she criticised the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for tipping off Indonesian authorities - a move that led to the Nine's arrest on Indonesian soil last year.

"Nine young Australians find themselves facing life in prison or the death penalty because the AFP decided to hand over information, that it had collected using resources funded by the Australian taxpayer, to the Indonesian police," she said.

She said the AFP knew "full well that the actions they were taking would have, and now has, resulted in the death penalty for at least one of the Nine.

"In doing this they threw away any chance they had of apprehending the recipients of these drugs in Australia, following the clues. And, add to this the failure by the Indonesian police to witness the exchange of the drugs.

"The AFP basically has what they started with, nine young Australians facing life in prison or death in a foreign country."

After the hearing, Lawrence was handcuffed to co-accused Martin Stephens of Wollongong and taken to a prison van, smoking a cigarette.

She refused to answer journalists' questions. Instead she shared a brief joke with her brother Allan who was at today's hearing.

All members of the group, dubbed the "Bali Nine" by Australian media, face charges that carry the maximum penalty of death by firing squad.

Life terms were demanded for Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Si Yi Chen and Matthew Norman, who were arrested at a Bali hotel along with quantities of heroin, scales and other equipment that authorities say indicated involvement in the transfer of drugs. The same penalty was sought for accused courier Martin Stephens.

Prosecutors on Tuesday demanded death for one of the accused masterminds, Myuran Sukumaran. They also sought life terms for two other accused couriers earlier this week.

Lawrence, Stephens and two other accused couriers who appeared in court earlier this week were caught at Bali's main airport during the April bust with packages of heroin strapped to their bodies.

The final suspect is Andrew Chan, whom prosecutors have said was involved in planning the operation.

Under Indonesian law, a prosecution demand is non-binding for judges but seen as a strong recommendation.

- AAP, REUTERS