First two of Bali Nine go on trial for their lives

DENPASAR, Indonesia - A court on the Indonesian resort island of Bali yesterday opened the first trials of nine young Australians facing possible death sentences for trafficking heroin.


Dubbed the "Bali Nine" by Australian media, the eight men and one woman were arrested in April with more than 8.2kg of heroin, most of it seized at Bali airport following a 10-week operation involving Australian and Indonesian police.

The first two to take the dock were one of the alleged masterminds of the operation, Myuran Sukumaran, 24, and accused mule Michael William Czugaj, 20.

Sukumaran looked calm but Czugaj appeared nervous, listening intently to the proceeding through a translator.

Prosecutor Olopan Nainggolan told the court that Sukumaran, of Sydney, was one of the planners of the operation along with another arrested Australian, Andrew Chan.

Sukumaran had helped strap heroin onto the bodies of Czugaj and three others, Nainggolan told the court.

"On March 30, 2005, the defendant met Andrew Chan and another person at the Roseland Shopping Centre in Sydney where they planned the transfer of heroin from Bali to Australia," Nainggolan said.

Sukumaran was arrested at a hotel on Bali's famous Kuta Beach. Chan was arrested on the plane before it left.

All four couriers were picked up at Bali's international airport before their flight left for Australia.

Another prosecutor, David Adji, said Czugaj had heroin in packages strapped around his waste and both thighs at the hotel.

"After that, he left with (the other three alleged mules) to the airport for a flight to Australia," Adji said.

The trials of the other seven are all expected to begin this week. All face the maximum penalty of death.

Indonesian police have vowed to crack down on illegal drugs on the island, which they have said has become a hub for international narcotics distribution.

Courts in Bali have delivered a string of tough sentences against foreigners convicted on drugs charges. They include Australian woman Schapelle Corby, sentenced to 20 years in jail in May after being found guilty of smuggling marijuana.

- REUTERS