Denpasar police chief defends 'happy snap' with Bali Nine

The Denpasar police chief pictured grinning as he posed with condemned prisoner Andrew Chan has denied the image was a heartless selfie.

Senior Commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo was photographed placing his hand on Chan's shoulder and smiling for the camera aboard the plane that would fly Chan and fellow Bali Nine kingpin Myuran Sukumaran to the penal island where they will be executed.

"It was not a selfie moment," he told Fairfax Media.

Another photo showed Utomo's hand on Sukumaran's shoulder.

Utomo said he was patting the men's shoulders and urging them to "be tough, be strong, and keep going".

He also claimed he had no idea the photos were being taken.

Surrounding the men in the photos are paramilitary officers wearing balaclavas.

The Australian Government has since said it will telephone the Indonesian ambassador to complain about the "lack of dignity" shown to the Bali Nine pair in transporting them to their place of execution.

It has been reported the complaint was prompted by the leaked photos as well as what Australian officials have perceived as an excessive display of military force.

Chan and Sukumaran are due to face a firing squad on the Nusakambangan prison island soon.