Death penalty demand for 'Bali Nine godfather'

DENPASAR, Bali - Indonesian prosecutors are expected to demand the death penalty when the accused godfather of the Bali Nine faces court in Denpasar this morning.

Andrew Chan, 22, is the last member of the Nine to appear before judges in the Denpasar District Court this week to hear prosecutors outline their sentence request.

Authorities have already asked for his main lieutenant and enforcer Myuran Sukumaran to face a firing squad.

Chan is certain to face a similar request as prosecutors seek to make a life-and-death distinction between the masterminds behind the failed bid to smuggle A$4 million ($4.45 million) worth of heroin from Bali to Australia.

Chan allegedly planned the operation and coerced the others with death threats if they refused to take part, warning he would also shoot their families.

Yesterday the only woman in the group, Renae Lawrence, was rewarded for informing on her co-accused when prosecutors asked the court to impose a 20-year prison term: the lightest sentence demand for any of the Nine.

They have now demanded life sentences for six defendants and death for Sukumaran, 24, of Sydney.

Evidence from Lawrence and fellow mule Martin Stephens helped Indonesian investigators uncover the roles of Chan and Sukumaran.

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

- AAP