Australian police defend involvement in Bali execution case

Australia’s police force has defended its involvement in tracking an international drug smuggling network that culminated in the execution of two Australians by firing squad in Indonesia last week.

The role of the Australian Federal Police has been widely criticised at home, with many arguing the police should have prevented some of the ‘Bali Nine’ from leaving Australia instead of tipping off their Indonesian counterparts.

Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said investigating officers knew that the Australians would be exposed to arrest — and potentially the death penalty, which Australia does not have — when they asked Indonesia to monitor the group.