Bali drug pair ‘evaluated for execution’

ANDREW Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are in a group to be “evaluated” for execution, according to an Indonesian official.

Myuran Sukumaran’s mother Raji leaves Kerobokan jail in Bali yesterday after visiting her son. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

BALI Nine members Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are among a group of eight drug convicts, including five other foreigners, to be “evaluated” for ­execution, according to an Indonesian official.

However, a decision on the timing or place where the two Australians could be put to death might still be a week away, with officials still working on a report about the Joko Widodo administration’s first six executions.

“The evaluation of the first phase (the January 18 killing of four men and two women) is ­expected to be finished this week,” the Attorney-General’s spokesman, Tony Spontana, told The Australian. “After the evaluation of the first phase is complete, then there will be preparation for phase two.”

Seven foreign drug convicts and one Indonesian man whose clemency appeals had been ­rejected by the President were in the second group, Mr Spontana told Metro TV.

Other than Sukumaran, 33, and Chan, 31, the other foreigners include a Philippines woman and men from Ghana, France, Spain and Brazil.

Still unclear about their immediate prospects, the families of Sukumaran and Chan yesterday visited Kerobokan jail in Bali.

The pair’s Indonesian lawyer, ­Todung Mulya Lubis, is expected this week to lodge applications on behalf of the condemned men for a second judicial review of their sentences.

However, it is uncertain Denpasar District Court will ­accept the applications and unlikely that Indonesia’s Supreme Court will agree to another review.

The Supreme Court this month “advised” lower jurisdictions not to accept second or subsequent applications for judicial reviews from convicts under sentence of death.

Sukumaran’s younger brother, Chinthu, and sister Brintha ­arrived at the gates of Kerobokan prison about 9.30am yesterday.

His mother Raji followed later ­accompanied by Australia’s ­consul-general to Bali, Majell Hind. They flew from Australia on Sunday night and it was their first visit since Sukumaran had his presidential clemency bid ­rejected. Chan’s older brother, Michael, who went to the jail on Sunday, joined the Sukumarans at Kerobokan yesterday.

Outside the prison, the impending executions were a topic of intense discussion among tourists. At a cafe, the chatter ­focused on the two condemned men. Most of the Australian visitors thought Governor Made Mangku Pastika’s weekend comments the executions should not be carried out in Bali were a red herring.

Holidaying with wife Carolyn and his two children, Scott Burcham, 51, from Sydney, said if the executions went ahead anywhere in Indonesia “it would ­affect my decision to holiday here”.

“It would affect it positively if there was a positive outcome,” Mr Burcham said.

“They have ­repented and changed their ways. I believe everyone should have a chance to redeem themselves, ­especially the young.”

Additional reporting: Telly Nathalia