Pubdate: Wed, 10 Aug 2005
Source: Age, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 The Age Company Ltd
Contact:  http://www.theage.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5
Author: AAP
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

BALI NINE FACE TRIAL 'WITHIN MONTHS'

The Bali nine have been told they'll probably face trial within weeks on 
drug charges that carry the death penalty.

Indonesian police have completed their investigation and their defence 
lawyers expect evidence files will be handed to Denpasar prosecutors on 
Monday, clearing the way for a series of seven trials to start, probably in 
early next month.

Haposan Sihombing, the lawyer for Wollongong man Martin Stephens, 29, and 
Newcastle woman Renae Lawrence, 27, broke the news to his clients in Bali's 
Kerobokan Prison today.

He said the pair, accused of attempting to smuggle heroin from Bali to 
Australia in bags strapped to their legs and stomach, would be tried 
separately along with two others arrested at Bali airport in April and 
making up the so-called Airport Four.

"Their cases will be handed to prosecutors on Monday and they will probably 
be taken out of Kerobokan briefly while that happens," he told AAP.

Mohammad Rifan, lawyer for five of the nine, said the Denpasar District 
Court would in the next two weeks set a date for seven trials to begin on 
charges including possessing and distributing drugs, as well as conspiracy 
in a narcotics crime.

The charge of distributing or dealing under section 82 of tough Indonesian 
anti-drug laws carries the death penalty by firing squad.

Two of the trials would be for alleged gang enforcer Andrew Chan and 
suspected mastermind Myuran Sukumaran, both from Sydney, while three other 
people arrested at the Melasti Hotel in Kuta would be tried together.

The Airport Four would all be tried separately, Rifan said.

Meanwhile Haposan, who also represents Schapelle Corby, said the convicted 
drug smuggler's defence team had not heard yet whether the Bali High Court 
would grant permission for a third trial hearing to allow fresh witnesses 
in Australia to testify by video link.

The chief of the High Court, Judge Made Lingga, was in Jakarta for talks, 
possibly with the peak Supreme Court, which this week received a letter 
from Corby's lawyers asking judges to back another hearing.

The Australian government has also written to the High Court after judge 
Lingga last week refused permission for a video link hearing, saying 
witnesses prepared to admit involvement with a drug stash found in Corby's 
luggage should testify in person.

Separately, Rifan said an Adelaide man facing a maximum of four years in a 
Bali prison for hash possession would be sentenced in Gianyar District 
Court on Monday.

John Julian Pyle, 42, was arrested in May and charged with possessing 1.8 
grams of hashish allegedly bought off the street in Kuta for 200,000 rupiah 
($A27) per gram.

He admitted to owning 0.8g of the stash, but claimed the rest belonged to a 
woman who he met in a local bar in Ubud.

Prosecutors have asked for a seven-month sentence.
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