Reason For Bali Nine Member's Death Penalty

[~lostgurl~]

Reason For Bali Nine Member's Death Penalty

28 Dec 2006
newswire.co.nz

The reason for the death sentence for one of the Bali Nine drug ring has been issued by the Indonesian Supreme Court.

The court said on Thursday that drug mule Scott Rush, 21, was given the death sentence because narcotics are a danger to society and kill people.

It also said the amount of heroin found strapped to his body, 1.693kg, was “significant”.

The court upgraded the Brisbane heroin smuggler's sentence from life to the death penalty. On August 31, it ordered Rush be executed after he appealed against his original life term.

The Supreme Court's 55-page dossier says the panel of three judges had granted Rush's wish to change his sentence, but instead of granting a lesser term they decided he should face the firing squad.

Rush, who celebrated his 21st birthday early this month, was caught with other members of the Bali Nine trying to export a total of 8.3kg of heroin from Bali to Australia in July last year.

Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, the accused leaders of the Bali Nine, have already sentenced to death in the Lower Court. Their sentences have since been upheld through Indonesia's highest court.

http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/views...53046&catid=16
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