Mr Chan, together with fellow Australian and co-ringleader Myuran Sukumaran, were sentenced to death on February 14, 2006 and executed by firing squad on April 29, 2015 on the prison island of Nusakambangan with six other convicted drug dealers.
Andrew Chan was born in 1984, the youngest of four children of Ken and Helena Chan, first generation immigrants from mainland China.
Helena spoke and understood very little English and Andrew did not speak Cantonese, so communication with his mother was difficult and he relied on his older siblings to interpret.
Mr Chan found it difficult to fit in as he grew up and became something of a street kid, getting in with the wrong crowd, using drugs. Ultimately he became a tough stand-over thug.
He worked with catering company Eurest where he appeared to do a good job and was respected, but it was the thought of easy money and an affluent lifestyle with little effort that appealed to him.
Working alongside him at Eurest were Renae Lawrence, Martin Stephens and Mathew Norman. Mr Chan promised them large amounts of money to become drug mules, smuggling drugs to Bali and bringing large amounts of heroin into Australia.
Bali has zero tolerance for drug trafficking and had made it widely known that anyone caught carrying drugs in or out of the country would be sentenced to death. Yet until the deaths of the two Australians it did not appear to be a deterrent.
In 2005 Mr Chan, Mr Sukumaran, Mr Lawrence, Mr Stephens, Mr Norman, Scott Rush, Si Ti Chen, Michael Czugaj, and Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen were apprehended at Denpasar airport, charged with trafficking heroin and imprisoned at Kerobakan until their trial.
As ringleaders, Mr Chan and Mr Sukumaran were found guilty and sentenced to death, while the remainder of the nine were giving life prison sentences, except for Renae Lawrence who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
Various Legal teams appealed to the court on behalf of the nine prisoners, yet their sentences were not overturned.
Mr Chan and Mr Sukumaran were the first prisoners to receive the death sentence imposed by Denpasar District Court.
He settled down to prison life after some time and was receiving spiritual guidance and mentoring from Dr Hammond, an Australian Pastor who lived in Jakarta and who would visit Kerobakan generally every two to four weeks and the pair formed a strong spiritual bond.
Mr Chan, previously of Buddhist faith became a Christian over a period of years due to Dr Hammond’s spiritual advice and mentoring and began to turn his life around and helped many of his fellow inmates for whom he had become a mentor.
Instead of the bullying, angry young man who feared torture, pain and suffering, he became recognised for his care and consideration of fellow prisoners.
He organised courses in the prison which led to the English language being used in church services and became a mentor to many prisoners who also embraced Christianity.
Mr Chan met Febyanti Herewila in prison when she was visiting a fellow inmate and approximately 12 months prior to his execution the couple married.
Standing with fellow prisoners on the morning the day of their execution, Mr Chan, Myuran Sukumaran and the other condemned drug dealers elected not to be blindfolded as 96 police and prison personnel, 12 to each prisoner aimed their rifles at each of the condemned men who heroically began to sing hymns such as ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘10,000 Reasons’ until the volley of gunfire silenced them for the last time.
Chan’s story is inspirational and has impacted the lives of more than 200 prisoners at Karabokan prison, many of whom have gotten off drugs and embraced Christianity.
If you would like to come along and hear more of the life and transformation of this young Australian, you will be warmly welcomed at the ‘Ignite Life’ Church at 63 Punt Road, Cobram between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Saturday, July 22.
On Sunday, Dr Hammond will also speak at the church service commencing at 10am.
For more information please contact Pastor Greg Dunn on 0410 574 482.
