27 October 2005 :

Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty defended a tip-off to Indonesian authorities that left nine young Australians, the so-called "Bali Nine", facing the death penalty on drugs charges. Keelty said there was no contradiction between the tip-off, which could lead to nine Australians being executed, and the fact that Canberra maintained strong opposition to the death penalty. Keelty said police had been trying to break a large drug syndicate when they supplied information that led to the arrest of the nine Australians on the Indonesian resort island in April 2004.
The nine were allegedly carrying 11.2 kilograms (24.7 pounds) of heroin at the time.
"I know it's an emotive issue... but we can't apologise for taking the strategy forward the way we have and the outcomes we have achieved," he told commercial radio in Sydney. Keelty was speaking after documents released in a Bali court showed Australian police sent letters to their Indonesian counterparts providing names and details of the alleged smuggling operation before the Australians were arrested.
The letters advised Indonesian police to take "whatever action you deem necessary" against the group. Keelty rejected a suggestion they should have been arrested before they left Sydney, saying they had not committed any offence at that stage.
Critics had also said the Australian police should not have informed the Indonesians about the smuggling plan and simply arrested the group when they landed in Australia, where they would not have been in danger of being sentenced to death. Australian-based lawyers for two of the accused, Scott Rush and Renae Lawrence, had launched legal action against the federal police, accusing them of acting illegally by cooperating with Indonesian police and exposing them to the death penalty.