Prosecutors demand death sentence for Australian drug trafficker

Indonesian prosecutors demanded a death sentence Thursday for a second Australian accused of being one of the masterminds of a drug smuggling ring on the resort island of Bali. Prosecutor Olopan Naiggolan told Bali's Denpasar District Court that Andrew Chan helped finance and house eight other Australians who allegedly were involved in a network that trafficked heroin from Bali to their homeland. Earlier this week, prosecutors also demanded death for Myuran Sukumaran, another alleged ringleader of the group, which has been dubbed the "Bali Nine" by the Australian media.

The eight men and one woman were arrested in April for allegedly trying to traffic more than 8 kilograms (18 pounds) of heroin. Some were detained at the airport with heroin allegedly strapped to their bodies, others at a hotel room where they were purportedly plotting another shipment.

Prosecutors have asked that six of the suspects be sentenced to life, and one to 20 years behind bars, reports the AP. I.L.