[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 26



SAUDI ARABIA:

Filipino in Saudi spared from death


An overseas Filipino worker who killed another Filipino in Saudi Arabia in 2008 
was spared from the death penalty after the victim's relatives forgave him and 
might be reunited with his family this Christmas.

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday said he has asked the Department of 
Foreign Affairs to expedite the release of the "blood money" so that Jonard 
Langamin can spend Christmas with his family.

Langamin is currently detained at the Dammam Reformatory Jail.

"This would be a great gift for our overseas workers who wish to be with their 
families to celebrate Christmas," Binay said.

Binay added that Langamin would have to settle the blood money demanded by his 
victim's heirs.

Once the needed amount has been paid to the victim???s family, Judge Sheikh 
Ahmad Najmi Al Otaibe of the Dammam High Court will schedule a marathon hearing 
for the closure of the public right aspect of the case and eventually decide on 
Langamin's immediate deportation.

Under Saudi law, the private aspect of the case is more important than the 
public aspect - the private aspect involves the victim's next of kin granting 
forgiveness to the family of the accused.

In contrast, the public aspect deals with the state punishing the accused for 
the crime committed.

Should the next of kin grant forgiveness, the state will no longer pursue the 
public aspect.

Langamin is a seafarer who was charged with murder before the Dammam High Court 
in Saudi Arabia for killing a fellow Filipino, Robertson Mendoza, in 2008.

Mendoza's family initially asked P5 million as blood money, which was lowered 
to P2 million after Binay reconciled both families during a meeting at the 
Coconut Palace.

Langamin was expected to be released in March 2012 after Mendoza???s father 
signed a tanazul or affidavit of forgiveness. The court, however, ruled that 
Mendoza's mother, Rosemarie Santiago, should be the official representative of 
the family.

According to Binay, on November 3, Judge Sheikh Ahmad Najmi Al Otaibe accepted 
the tanazul presented by Santiago and as a result, Langamin will no longer be 
beheaded.

(source: Manila Standard Today)