Andrew's Story
Painting of Andrew Chan, by fellow Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran
Interview with a friend of a drug dealer
Early April 2015, Andrew Chan was texting his friends in Australia. It was too expensive to call from Indonesia. A frog emoji was sent one way. A pig emoji back. Nonsense to anyone. Nonsense to them. But a conversation nonetheless. This emoji conversation continued as both parties avoided serious topics of conversation. Two weeks after this texting exchange, Andrew was dead. He had been executed by firing squad.
Last week I had the opportunity to speak to a close friend of Andrew’s, and the other member of this texting conversation, Malinda Rutter. She met Andrew while in Kerobokan prison interviewing another member of the Bali Nine. Malinda and Andrew went on to spend a month together, while Malinda made a documentary film inside the prison about the dangers of drugs.
“Who would have thought you would walk out of a third world prison, with the subject of your documentary being both an ex drug dealer on death row, as well as a friend. Even after his death, he will always be a great friend, and a highly reformed man.” Said Ms Rutter.
On April 17, 2005, Andrew Chan was arrested while waiting to board his flight from Denpasar, Indonesia to Sydney, Australia. No Drugs were found on him. At the same time, four others were arrested, with 8.3kg of heroin collectively strapped to their bodies (Martin Stephens, Renae Lawrence, Michael Czugaj, Scott Rush.) Another four were arrested in a hotel in Kuta, Indonesia, in possession of 334g of heroin and supplies to smuggle more drugs out of Indonesia (Si Yi Chen, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Myuran Sukumaran, Matthew Norman.) This group was quickly labelled the Bali Nine.
Scott Rush of the Bali Nine has packages of heroin removed from his body.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were found to be the ringleaders of the smuggling ring, having supplied the money for the drugs, and booked the flights and accommodation for the group. At the time of their arrests they were 22 and 24 years old respectively.
Following their February 2006 verdict, the seven other members of the Bali Nine were each given life prison sentences, while Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were given the death penalty. A surprising outcome, considering the prosecutor was looking for life sentences for all members.
Over their next nine years in prison, both Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran reformed into model prisoners.
“They did almost everything in that prison.” said Ms Rutter. “Counseling, art studio, cooking classes, getting people off drugs, everything. They ran that prison with kindness and humanity it was really amazing.”
When asked about their work with drug reform, Ms Rutter responded, “There were lots of people they got off drugs in jail, heaps of them. My friend Araf was one of them. He had drug induced psychosis. Without Andrew and Myuran there now to support him, we all worry about how he will go in the prison, surrounded by drugs.”
They even helped other prisoners get access to health care.
“When anyone was sick Myu and Andrew would make sure that they got treatment.” Said Ms Rutter, “They would raise the money to make sure that person could get the treatment they needed. I remember they were supposed to be discussing their case with the lawyers, because at this point they were on death row. One of the other prisoners had a stroke, and Andrew wouldn’t speak to his lawyer because he was so worried about the other prisoner. They organized for the prisoner who had the stroke to be taken to the hospital to receive treatment. He was always more worried about what was going on with the other prisoners than himself.”
In Indonesian prisons, health care is a luxury that is not included in your stay, food is the basics, rice and limited protein, but unlike western prisons, outsiders can provide money for healthcare, and can bring food for inmates. Andrew had said to many people around him that he would have been better off if he were in prison in Australia.
Although she agreed that he would have been better off in an Australian prison, Ms Rutter had said “It was rife with corruption inside Kerobokan. There was always rife drug use inside the prison. But as a visitor I didn’t feel that I needed to come out and have a shower and totally disinfect myself as I have when I have gone to western prisons.”
While in prison, facing death, Andrew found God. He lead the English language church inside the prison and in 2015 was certified as a pastor. It was through the church he met his wife Febyanti Herewila, while she visited another inmate. They were married two days before Andrew’s execution.
Andrew Chan and Febyanti Herewila at their wedding
Through his work with the church, he supported other prisoners in the same position as himself, awaiting their execution.
“Andrew was constantly counseling other prisoners over the telephone all over the world.” Said Ms Rutter “And he raised money to buy some land in Bali, so that the church could set up a place to educate the youth who were starting to get into drugs. I mean he was pretty amazing what he could achieve from inside prison and how much he helped. I mean his whole life was about helping others in the end”
On April 29, 2015, Andrew faced the firing squad alongside fellow Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran and six other drug criminals. As they were being tied up to be executed, Andrew led all the prisoners in singing hymns Amazing Grace and 10 000 reasons. Before he was executed, Andrew was given the choice to be blindfolded, or to face his executioners. He chose to wear his glasses, so that he could clearly stare into the eyes of those who would take his life.
Andrew Chan’s funeral was on May 8, 2015 held at the Hillsong Church in Baulkham Hills, Sydney. More than 2000 people attended the funeral.
Andrew Chan's funeral
Although media outlets often named Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran as ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Kingpin’ of this smuggling ring, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) considered them to be merely low level players. As they were the leaders of the couriers that were arrested, they are often viewed as the directors of the scheme. The suspected masterminds, however, were never caught, and members of the Bali Nine refused to name anyone for fear for their families in Australia.
The man suspected by police of being the true mastermind of this smuggling ring is believed to have won over $5 million in a lottery win.