Australians suspects in drug haul
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Nine Australians arrested in Bali, Indonesia have formally been declared suspects in a heroin smuggling operation, that could see them face the death by firing squad if convicted.
Charges are expected to be laid shortly against all of the Australians, who were caught after a joint operation between Australian and Indonesian authorities.
The development, which comes a day after Australian woman Schapelle Corby was told she could face life in prison if found guilty of drug trafficking, has also ignited criticism of the Australian Government for allowing the accused to be arrested in a country which carries the death penalty.
Five of the nine were arrested on Sunday evening at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport after police found close to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of heroin strapped to their bodies.
Four other Australians were arrested on the same day in Bali's tourist district of Kuta.
The drug raids were conducted with the cooperation with Australian Federal Police, who had been tracking the operation since February and provided information to Indonesian authorities which led to their arrest.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Australia's national bBroadcaster ABC radio that if any of the Australian's are sentenced to death, then Canberra would appeal for clemency.
However, leader of the Australian Democrats party Lyn Allison told CNN that Australian authorities should have only provided the information to Indonesian authorities once they had ensured the suspects would not face the possibility of a death sentence.
"The Government (of Australia) tipped off Indonesia in the full knowledge they would be given the death penalty," Allison said.
"There are ways which we can cooperate with Indonesia in relation to drug trafficking ... but in the first instance we should protect Australian citizens," Allison said.
Earlier Thursday, Bali's chief prosecutor asked the court to find 27-year old Corby "officially and convincingly guilty" of attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of marijuana into Bali.
Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu said Corby's actions could have affected young people's lives and threatened to ruin Bali's image as a tourist destination, instead making it look like a drug haven.
But prosecutors stopped short of recommending the former beauty student be sentenced to death because she had been polite during her trial, and had no prior criminal record in Australia.
The prosecution dismissed the evidence given to the court by Australian prisoner John Ford, who flew to Bali to testify that the drugs were not Corby's.
The prosecution said his testimony was worthless and he had only flown to Bali because he wanted to "breathe fresh air."
Corby has maintained that the drugs were not hers but were planted in her body board bag.
The court's three judges are expected to deliver their verdict in about a month.
