Bali Nine bodies arrive home
The bodies of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have arrived back in Australia, three days after the men were executed by firing squad in Indonesia.
Relatives of the two men also arrived in Sydney on the same flight from Jakarta.
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Sukumaran’s parents, brother and sister were onboard the flight along with Febyanti Herewila, who married Chan on the eve of his execution.
Chan’s brother and mother flew back to Australia on Friday from Indonesia and were escorted by officials to a different airport exit in Commonwealth cars.
It is understood Chan’s family were hoping to accompany the bodies back yesterday, but there was a delay in the bodies being repatriated.
Australian ambassador to Indonesia Paul Gregson, who was recalled to Australia in the wake of the executions, is also understood to have been onboard the flight.
At this stage funeral plans for the two men are unclear but it is likely that Chan, who became a reverend while on death row and whose family has a strong religious background, will have a religious ceremony.
Meanwhile an Indonesian lawyer who represented the two men, Mohammad Rifan, said media reports he had been arrested were not true.
Mr Rifan was the first lawyer for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran and represented the Bali Nine in their original case.
He has gone public with allegations the trial judges demanded bribes in return for not delivering the death sentence.
Reports emerged that he had been arrested for making false statements without evidence regarding the Bali Nine pair’s case.
Mr Rifan told ABC News this morning he had seen the reports but said they were untrue.
The Australian drug traffickers were shot in the early hours of Wednesday morning by firing squad on the Indonesian prison island of Nusakambangan, alongside six other death row prisoners.
The men refused blindfolds and sang Amazing Grace as they were taken to be killed in a jungle clearing, a pastor who was with them until just before they were executed said.
The men’s families released a statement after the executions, expressing their gratitude for the support they had received.
“Today we lost Myuran and Andrew. Our sons, our brothers,” the statement said.
“In the 10 years since they were arrested, they did all they could to make amends, helping many others.
“They asked for mercy, but there was none.
“They were immensely grateful for all the support they received. We too, will be forever grateful.”