Having been denied their final official plea for clemency, both Myuran, 34, and Chan, 31, were brought one-by-one from their isolation cells in Besi prison on Nusakambangan island, to an office on Saturday afternoon.
There prosecutors gravely informed them: “You will be executed within three times of 24 hours from now.”
According to News Corp sources there were reportedly no tears from either of the prisoners, but, understandably, an immense blanket of sadness.
After an emotional ten year battle following their 2005 arrest for drug trafficking, this week the Sydney pair are due to face death by firing squad, along with seven other convicted prisoners.
In a sombre sign of things to come, local mortician, B. Suhendroputr has already painted crosses inscribed with the names of the two Australians, and the date of their deaths as 29th April.
As the news of their execution date is confirmed, fresh corruption allegations have emerged on Monday morning, regarding their case via a joint investigation from Fairfax media and SBS’s Dateline.
It’s alleged that the judges involved in the pair’s conviction asked for more than $130,000 to give them a prison term of less than 20 years, according to the former lawyer of the Bali Nine duo, Mohammad Rifan.
Rifan says though that the deal fell through after the judges faced pressure from Jakarta to impose the death penalty. There has been no official comment from Canberra on the fresh allegations but Parliamentary secretary to the Foreign Minister Steve Ciobo told ABC radio, that they were concerned.
“I think Australians want to know the … process has been free of the taint of corruption,” Mr Ciobo said.
Myuran and Andrew’ s brothers Chinthu Sukumaran and Michael Chan make a plea to President Joko Widodo via the assembled media
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the department would continue doing everything it could to save the lives of the convicted drug smugglers as their final hours draw closer.
While the Minister said she didn’t wish to speculate on what the repercussions would be in terms of Australia’s response, she did say if Indonesia went ahead with the executions, the country’s international standing would be seriously diminished.
“I don’t want to speculate at this point … my focus remains on doing everything I can to secure their lives.”
“I am profoundly dismayed that the 72-hours’ notice has been given,” Ms Bishop said.
The Minister said she had written again to the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi.
“I have written again to Minister Marsudi and the Prime Minister has again written to the President of Indonesia,” Ms Bishop said.
“I do not believe it is too late for a change of heart – I ask no more of Indonesia than it has asked for other nations.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters in France that the execution of the Bali nine pair is not in the best interests of Indonesia, let alone in the interests of Myuran and Andrew.
Myuran’s final request has been to keep painting as much as possible right up until the execution while Andrew asked to be allowed to attend church with his family.
“My brother has asked for his last request to be able to paint as long and as much as possible and he has found peace with what may happen,” Chinthu Sukumaran told the media.
Andrew’s brother Michael Chan said: “Andrew’s last wish would be, one of his last wishes would be to go to church with his family on his last few days”.
The family members made a plea to the cameras for Indonesian President Joko Widodo, to show mercy and spare their brothers’ lives.
“He (Sukumaran) as we all feel, this is a grave injustice and that it did not have to be this way and it still doesn’t have to be this way,” Chinthu said.
“We ask the President to please use his powers and to show the same mercy that I know that he has asked for Indonesian citizens in other countries. We ask the President, please show mercy.”
As the pair’s families spend time with them at Nusakambangan Island, a vigil has been scheduled in Sydney, to be held outside the Indonesian consulate Monday afternoon.
Our thoughts are with Andrew and Myuran’s family at this devastating time.
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