Drug smuggler loses death row appeal

2011-07-07 15:14

Jakarta - An Australian drug smuggler sentenced to death in Indonesia, one of the "Bali Nine" gang arrested in 2005, has lost his final appeal against the punishment, his lawyer said.

Todung Mulya Lubis, a lawyer for 30-year-old Myuran Sukumaran, said he found out on Wednesday that Sukumaran's judicial review had been rejected by the Supreme Court.

"I'm very saddened by the decision," Lubis said.

"He has admitted his guilt and asked not to be sentenced to death. The death punishment should actually be revoked."

Lubis said it was not clear if Sukumaran would be able to seek any further judicial review of his sentence.

Sukumaran was a member of the so-called Bali Nine gang which attempted to smuggle 8kg of heroin into Australia from the Indonesian resort island of Bali in 2005.

The Supreme Court has also rejected the judicial review of Andrew Chan, another member of the group who was also sentenced to face the firing squad.

A third member, Scott Rush, won an appeal against his death sentence in May and is now serving life in jail.

Six other gang members are serving lengthy jail sentences.

- SAPA