[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 18



BAHRAIN:

Victims of horrific human rights abuses, not criminals - the stories of 3 men 
executed by firing squad on Sunday


On Sunday 15th January, 3 men were executed by firing squad in Bahrain. Their 
names were Ali Al-Singace, Abbas Al-Samea and Sami Mushaima.

The UN Special Rapporteur, Dr Agnes Callamard, called their executions 
"extrajudicial killings". Ali, Abbas and Sami were the first prisoners to be 
put to death by the Bahraini authorities since 2010.

Ali al-Singace

Ali was just 21 when executed. He had been harassed and tortured by Bahrain's 
police since he was 15, because of his family's links to political opposition.

The police wanted Ali to work as an informant. He refused.

When Ali was 18, a bomb exploded killing several policemen. Ali was sentenced 
to death without even appearing before a court and then arrested a year later.

He was tortured and electrocuted into making a false confession. His torture 
was never investigated.

The day before his execution, Ali's family came to visit him in prison. The 
guards refused to say if he was about to be executed, and Ali asked his family 
to arrange for him to resit school exams he had missed.

Abbas Al-Samea

Abbas was a school teacher, and was just 27 when executed. He was targeted 
because of his family's links to political opposition. He was sentenced to 
death despite presenting the court with an alibi letter from the school where 
he taught.

Abbas required hospital treatment after police tortured him during his 
interrogation, including electric shocks to his genitals and suspending him 
from the ceiling. He was later tortured again by guards in prison.

Although UK prison inspectors helped plan inspections of both the police 
station and prison just months after Abbas was abused there, his torture 
allegations were ignored.

Another UK-trained torture watchdog in Bahrain dismissed his complaint about 
ill-treatment without even arranging for a doctor to examine him for signs of 
torture.

The day before his execution, Abbas' family came to visit him in prison. The 
guards refused to say if he was about to be executed.

Sami Mushaima

Sami was targeted because of his family's links to political opposition. During 
his police interrogation, he was beaten, tortured with electric shocks and 
sexually assaulted. He was illiterate, but was forced to sign a confession that 
he could not read. He was 42 years old when he was executed.

Although UK prison inspectors helped plan inspections of the police station 
just months after Sami was abused there, his torture allegations were ignored.

The day before his execution, Sami's family came to visit him in prison. The 
guards refused to say if he was about to be executed.

(source: reprieve.org.uk)






PHILIPPINES:

1 more bill reimposing death penalty filed in Senate


A new measure that seeks to reimpose death penalty on persons involved in the 
illegal drug trade has been filed in the Senate on Wednesday.

Under Senate Bill No. 1294, Sen. Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian seeks to amend 
Section 11 of RA 9165 to impose capital punishment on persons convicted of 
possession, sale, distribution, importation, and manufacture drugs.

These include marijuana (10,000 grams or more), shabu (1,000 grams or more), 
opium, morphine, heroine, cocaine, cocaine hydrochloride, marijuana resin, 
marijuana resin oil, ecstasy, and LSD, and other drugs as determined by the 
Dangerous Drugs Board (200 grams or more).

The measure also seeks to increase fines and penalties imposed for offenses 
under RA 9165 involving smaller quantities of drugs.

Gatchalian, an ally of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, said that his bill was his 
commitment to the Duterte administration's intensified campaign against illegal 
drugs.

The neophyte senator, who was also 3-time mayor of Valenzuela City, said that 
he and Pres. Duterte were both "mayors at heart" and had "the same perspective" 
in terms of solutions to eliminate drug trafficking.

"As local chief executives, we have both seen firsthand the kind of damage the 
illegal drug trade can do to entire communities if drug lords and king pins are 
allowed to continue their despicable operations with impunity," Gatchalian 
said.

"Passage of this law will stop the illegal drug trade in its tracks and make 
sure that these despicable people will pay the ultimate price for their crimes 
against the Filipino people," he added.

Aside from Gatchalian, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, has previously filed a 
measure to revive death penalty. Some other senators who have openly expressed 
being in favor of the reinstatement of death penalty include Senate President 
Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, 
and Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao.

Pimentel, however, said that the passage of the death penalty bill will not 
come easy in the Senate as in the House of Representatives where it expected to 
face less opposition.

Last December 7, the House Committee on Justice approved the committee report 
on the reinstatement of the death penalty bill or House Bill No. 1 in a vote of 
12-6-1.

The measure is one of the priority bills of President Duterte.

(source: northboundasia.com)






THAILAND:

2 indicted in iPhone murder-robbery


Prosecutors have formally indicted the two men charged with stabbing a man to 
death and stealing his iPhone in Bangkok on Jan 4.

Jetsada Arunchaiphirom, a senior prosecutor for criminal litigation, said 
prosecutors had agreed to indict Kittikorn Wikaha, 26, of Sa Kaeo, and his 
alleged accomplice Supatchai Charnsri, 25, of Uthai Thani.

He was speaking Tuesday as he announced progress in the case at the Office of 
the Attorney-General on Ratchadaphisek Road.

The suspects are accused of killing Wasin Luangjaem, a former worker at 
Suvarnabhumi airport, on the night of Jan 4 in Lat Phrao district.

They have been charged with theft subsequently causing death, carrying a weapon 
in a public place, and murder to conceal a crime.

Mr Jetsada said prosecutors decided to indict Mr Kittikorn and Mr Supatchai as 
police have solid evidence, including security camera footage, that proves the 
suspects colluded to rob and kill Wasin.

The security camera footage shows Wasin, 26, being attacked by 2 men who 
approached him on a motorcycle.

Wasin is seen fighting back in the footage. One of the men, identified as Mr 
Kittikorn, is seen stabbing Wasin in the neck, upon which the victim falls to 
the ground. The attackers stole only the victim's iPhone 7 and left his wallet 
behind.

Last week, Khok Khram police overseeing the case submitted an investigation 
report to prosecutors for review.

A 3-member working panel was set up to consider the evidence provided by police 
and decide whether to indict the suspects.

Mr Jetsada said prosecutors had opposed the request for bail, saying the 
suspects posed a flight risk.

Mr Kittikorn and Mr Supatchai will face the strongest possible punishment, the 
death penalty, if convicted.

Such criminals pose a great threat to the public, Mr Jetsada added.

The suspects allegedly committed four crimes on the night of Jan 4 and in the 
early hours of Jan 5.

On Jan 4, they allegedly tried and failed to snatch a bag from a woman on soi 
Sukhonthasawat 27. 8 minutes later, they allegedly murdered Wasin and took his 
iPhone. A few hours later the suspects allegedly murdered Wasin and took his 
iPhone. A few hours later the suspects allegedly stole an iPhone from a woman 
on soi Sukhonthasawat 9.

They are also accused of later robbing another woman and making off with her 
mobile phone and 5,000 baht from outside Synphaet Hospital in Kannayao 
district.

(source: Bangkok Post)






MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE:

Anwar Ibrahim urges Malaysian government to intervene in case of death row 
inmate in Singapore


Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim 
has called on his country's Foreign Ministry to look into the case of S 
Prabagaran, reported Malaysiakini. Prabagaran a Malaysian is facing the death 
sentence here for drug trafficking.

Anwar said that he would normally not want to comment on people facing drug 
trafficking charges, but he thinks this is a proper case to be brought to the 
International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Prabagaran was arrested on 12 April 2012 when he was just 24 years old, for a 
narcotic trafficking offence. He has been on death row for more than 4 years 
since 2012, and is awaiting the result of his clemency petition to the 
Singapore President.

The Singapore Anti-Death Penalty activists who have been fighting to save 
Prabagaran, allege that he is being deprived of his life in a manner that is in 
breach of the principles of the separation of powers, the fundamental rules of 
natural justice, and the rule of law.

"In respect of a person who has been convicted of a drug offence that is 
punishable with death under the Second Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act 
(MDA), Section 33B(2)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) provides that the 
Public Prosecutor may certify that a person convicted of a drug offence 
punishable with the death penalty has substantively assisted the Central 
Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in disrupting drug activities. If the Public Prosecutor 
so certifies, and if the offender is also merely a courier, then the sentencing 
judge has the discretion to impose life imprisonment in lieu of the death 
penalty. If the Public Prosecutor does not so certify, then the sentencing 
judge must sentence the offender to the death penalty.

As discussed above, although in this case Praba has maintained his innocence, 
he has, in fact, done his best to provide CNB with credible leads that could 
well have resulted in persons involved in drug activities (i.e., Balu and 
Nathan) being apprehended."

They argue that the right to a fair trial is one of the most important 
fundamental human rights and that the death sentence imposed on Prabagaran 
violates the right to fair trial under customary international law.

The activists said "the Public Prosecutor's determination of whether or not 
substantive assistance was provided is too fluid and unstable a standard by 
which to determine the penalty which an offender should receive."

Anwar in seeming to agree with the activists, said that Prabagaran was denied a 
fair trial.

"There is allegedly a denial of key witnesses and this deprives opportunity for 
the defence to present its case. This is a proper case for the foreign minister 
and the prime minister to take to the ICJ," he said.

(source: The Independent)