The outcry over the coming executions of Australians Myurat Sukumaran and Andrew Chan in Indonesia has led to a small mercy for the men, with their scheduled transfer to the execution island of Nusakambangan postponed.
Fairfax report that the transfer will no longer happen this week. Their lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis says that this is a “good sign”, although it remains unclear whether a reprieve for the pair is any closer.
Two fellow death row prisoners, Serge Areski Atlaoui, from France, and Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, from the Philippines, both of whom had clemency pleas rejected, have now had their executions postponed, pending judicial review.
Chan and Sukumaran are in the same boat, raising the possibility that this may also happen for them.
Earlier this week, allegations came out that judges involved in the Bali Nine pair’s sentencing had asked for bribes in exchange for leniency, with their lawyers asking for a stay of execution until these claims were addressed.
With regards to the most recent turn of events, Indonesia’s Attorney General HM Presetyo has simply said “we want the families to meet with Myuran and Andrew, to give them more time to be with the convicts on death row.”
“This is not delaying the executions. This is just to provide the families with more time.” At this point, he remains determined that the executions will be carried out, although he has not provided a date.
Photo: Jewel Samad via Getty Images
