[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

June 8



ALGERIA:

Algerians Call for Reinstating Death Penalty for Child Killers


Algerians have been under shock since the brutal killing of a 10-year-old boy 
in a town in al-Oued province this week.

A farmer found the body of Bilal buried in an isolated place a week after his 
disappearance.

The boy was last seen riding his bicycle near his family home.

His murder brought back discussions on reinstating the death penalty which has 
been frozen since the execution in 1993 of 4 extremists accused of carrying out 
a deadly bombing at Algiers' airport a year earlier.

The parents of children found dead after their kidnapping began urging Algerian 
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika this week to reinstate the death penalty for 
child killers.

Bilal's grieving father demanded utmost punishment for his son's abductors and 
murderers.

"The criminals wanted to steal the innocence of my boy who was playing like the 
rest of the children in the neighborhood," he said.

He also urged security forces to swiftly carry out their investigation to find 
the perpetrators.

Several such crimes have hit different Algerian provinces in the past 3 years. 
One of the most brutal murders was the killing of Yassine Bebshar in southwest 
Algeria last year.

The boy's hands were cut after he was knifed to death.

Investigators discovered that the murderer was a woman who wanted to use 
Yassine's hands in witchcraft.

Another incident that has shocked public opinion was the death of 5-year-old 
Nohal who had come to Algiers with her mother to attend her uncle's wedding.

The girl disappeared minutes after arriving in the capital. Her body was found 
in the suburbs a week later.

According to investigators, the perpetrator was her uncle's friend who wanted 
to take vengeance as a result of a business dispute with the groom.

(source: Asharq Al-Awsat)






IRAN----execution

Prisoner Hanged on Murder Charges


A prisoner identified as Homayoun Toolabi was reportedly hanged at Khorramabad 
Prison on murder charges. According to close sources, the execution was carried 
out on the morning of Tuesday June 6, and the prisoner was held in prison for 5 
years prior to his execution. Homayoun Toolabi was reportedly transferred to 
solitary confinement on Monday June 5 in preparation for his execution.

(source: Iran Human Rights)

***************

Christian Convert Faces Death-Sentence Deportation from Sweden to Iran


An Iranian actress who left Islam for Christianity has twice been denied asylum 
in Sweden and could be sent back to Iran where the penalty for conversion 
includes death.

Aideen Strandsson told CBN News she secretly converted to Christianity while 
still living in Iran.

"I read the Bible and I understood what Jesus said about peace, about love, 
about kindness, and in my heart I became a Christian when I was in Iran," she 
said in an interview with CBN's Dale Hurd.

Three years ago, she moved to Sweden and publicly proclaimed her new faith, but 
her application for asylum has been denied by government officials and an 
immigration court.

"They felt that, they don't believe I am in danger and I think that's the 
reason," she said.

The Islamic regime in Iran persecutes Christians. House churches are raided and 
closed, and leaders are imprisoned and often beaten and tortured. The regime 
follows Sharia law, which calls for the death penalty for apostates -- those 
who leave Islam to follow another faith.

"Everybody knows about the situation in Iran and in Islam. In Sharia, 
converting religions is not acceptable and punishment for this issue is death," 
Strandsson said.

Her attorneys continue to fight her asylum case, but with 2 denials Strandsson 
says her situation is dangerous.

"I don't know what will happen to me, I know the punishment for me in Iran is 
death...I think about Jesus will help me. I face deport(ation) and I don't know 
what will happen, just I have hope in Jesus, it's just the last hope I have in 
my life."

(source: cbn.com)






IRAQ:----execution

Iraqi forces execute hospital employee suspected of ISIS links, journalist 
tells RT


Details of the gruesome murder of a hospital employee by members of an elite 
Iraqi counter-terrorist unit have been shared by photographer Ali Arkady, who 
in an interview with RT, recalled that the man was shot after soldiers 
suspected him of trying to lead them into a trap.

The original 12-second smartphone clip depicting the cold-blooded murder of an 
unidentified Iraqi was allegedly recorded by the Iraqi Emergency Response 
Division (ERD) in December 2016. It shows a man, whose arms are tied behind his 
back, trying to run away from his executioners before being murdered in broad 
daylight by his captors.

The details of the apparent extrajudicial execution were made public by Arkady, 
a freelance filmmaker who between October and December of last year, documented 
the accomplishments and atrocities of the ERD - the Iraqi special forces unit 
tasked with hunting down Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) fighters in 
Iraq.

Speaking to RT about the murder video, Arkady revealed how the man's 
executioners boasted about killing an unarmed Iraqi. The incident, Arkady 
recalled, unfolded on December 12, 2016, when 2 members of the ERD - Captain 
Omar Nizar and Sergeant Haidar - who the filmmaker has been following for 
months, returned from one of their assignments.

The ERD officers recorded the execution on their smartphone, and once back at 
the unit's headquarters, were very eager to share the footage with Arkady and 
at least 2 other journalists present there.

"They started showing [the footage], saying, look how we killed this person. He 
leads us into a village. We wanted to extract information out of him," Arkady 
told RT.

"[The footage] showed how Sergeant Haidar started firing, unloading around 6-9 
shots at the person. Then you hear Captain Omar's voice [saying], 'Haidar, 
stop, that is enough. I want to talk to him.' But then he himself shot this 
person 3 times."

Further conversations on that day revealed that the Iraqi was murdered for 
allegedly trying to lead the special forces unit into an ISIS ambush.

(source: rt.com)






MALAYSIA:

Death for 9 Filipinos over 2013 Malaysia invasion


9 Filipinos who were part of an armed group that invaded and occupied part of 
Malaysian Borneo in 2013, in an episode that left scores dead, have been 
sentenced to hang.

The bloody incursion by some 200 Islamic militants from the southern 
Philippines was inspired by a self-proclaimed Filipino sultanate's claims of 
historical dominion over the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island.

The assault, Malaysia's most serious security crisis in years, led to a siege 
between the militants and the country's armed forces who were sent to root them 
out.

At least 70 people were killed, mostly militants, over the 6-week ordeal.

The episode eventually fizzled out when some of the militants fled the palm oil 
plantation where they had been holed up and returned to the Philippines.

The 9 had initially been handed life sentences last year but prosecutors 
appealed for a stiffer penalty.

"With this current sentence, I am satisfied," Deputy Public Prosector Wan 
Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told AFP.

"Hopefully this will deter other alien nations from intruding into Sabah and 
Malaysia."

He added that technically the 9 Filipinos were sentenced to death for "waging 
war against the King of Malaysia" and jail sentences of 13 to 18 years were 
handed out for "being a member of a terrorist group."

The Philippines said it would ask Malaysia to reconsider the death penalty.

Government official Raul Dado said Philippine officials in Malaysia are 
"meeting immediately with embassy lawyers".

A total of 800,000 Filipinos live in Sabah, making up about 1/4 of the 
population of the state, which is just a short boat ride from the southern 
Philippines.

The crisis at the time embarrassed both the Philippines and Malaysia, shining 
the spotlight on a porous border and locals' complaints of rampant illegal 
immigration and lawlessness.

The sentencing comes as Philippine troops continue an offensive to dislodge 
militants flying the Islamic State group flag who seized the southern city of 
Marawi more than 2 weeks ago.

(source: dailymail.co.uk)






CHINA:

hinese Law Blog Claims Death Penalty Reform Success


Even international human rights NGOs have had to admit to the decline in the 
number of people sentenced to death in China, according to the blog.

China's death penalty reform has effectively reduced the number of people 
sentenced, indicating the reforms have had a positive effect, according to an 
article posted to WeChat by Justice Data, a Chinese legal blog that uses data 
and statistics to present legal issues from both China and abroad.

China's death penalty system has seen 2 major reforms since 2007, the 
Chinese-language blog post details.

The 1st was when the Supreme People's Court (SPC) regained the power of final 
review over death sentences which was originally undertaken by local high 
courts but led to many wrong convictions. One example is She Xianglin, who was 
sentenced to death for killing his wife in 1994, but who was later found to 
have confessed after 10 days of brutal beatings when his supposedly dead wife 
reappeared 11 years later. After 2007, the SPC sent back 39 % of death 
sentences to lower local courts for additional evidence.

The 2nd reform was the National People's Congress (NPC) review of the list of 
death penalty crimes, removing 13 crimes like theft, smuggling of artifacts and 
smuggling of precious metals in 2011, and removing another nine crimes in 2015, 
which included scams, organized prostitution and forced prostitution. By 2015, 
the number of crimes punishable by death had been reduced to 46 from the 
original 71.

Other reforms include a "kill fewer, kill cautiously" policy, mandatory public 
hearings for death penalty case reviews, in which judges should also 
interrogate the accused, instead of just reviewing documents. The standards 
used to review evidence were made stricter, and a system to disqualify illegal 
evidence was established.

(source: thenewslens.com)






THAILAND:

Dismemberment case suspects face death penalty


4 of the 5 suspects in the muchpublicised dismemberment case are facing the 
death penalty after police yesterday pressed premeditated murder charges 
against them.

The move indicates that investigators doubt key suspect Priyanuch 
Nonwangchai???s claim that the killing was accidental.

"There is evidence that the suspects made preparations for the murder," 
Provincial Police Region 4 deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Tanasak 
Rittidejpaiboon said yesterday.

Pol Maj-General Charoenwit Sriwanich also said police planned to conclude the 
investigation within 84 days and would object to any bail request during that 
period.

The gruesome crime took place last month in Khon Kaen province, with the 
victim's body being cut into pieces and buried in a forest.

Priyanuch and 2 alleged accomplices, Kawita Rachada and Apiwan Satayabundit, 
fled to Myanmar following the crime but they surrendered to Myanmar authorities 
earlier this month and were deported to Thailand. 2 other suspects, Wasin 
Namprom and Jidarat Promkhun, were arrested in Thailand. All but Jidarat face 
the additional premeditated murder charge.

Charoenwit said the additional charge was on top of other charges that had 
already been pressed against the suspects in connection with the murder.

The death penalty is the only punishment for defendants convicted of 
premeditated murder. If convicted of murder without premeditation, penalties 
range from jail terms to the death penalty.

Charoenwit added that authorities were also probing the suspects' financial 
transactions and working with the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) to 
determine whether the suspects were involved in illicit drugs.

ONCB secretary-general Sirinya Sittichai said yesterday that Tawatchai 
Omchompoo, the man who helped the 3 suspects flee to Myanmar, was wanted in 
Thailand over drug allegations.

"He has fled to Myanmar while his drug case goes to the Appeals Court," Sirinya 
said.

Sirinya said suspected traffickers who had fled from Thailand to Myanmar 
usually opened up businesses in Tachileik and nearby cities. Priyanuch and her 
2 accomplices were known to have worked at a karaoke lounge in Tachileik for a 
few days before they surrendered.

Kawita's elder sister denied widespread reports that Kawita had millions of 
baht in her bank account.

After visiting Kawita in jail, the sister also said Kawita insisted that she 
had just taken a ride with her friends and did not know it would implicate her 
in a crime.

Meanwhile, 2 immigration police officers in Chiang Rai province have been 
transferred out of their posts for taking photos with a smiling Priyanuch after 
she was handed over by Myanmar officials.

They are also facing a probe over the photos and their conduct.

(source: nationmultimedia.com)

***************************

Bar girl murder suspects to face death penalty for heinous dismemberment


4 suspects in the Khon Kaen bar girl dismemberment case are looking at the 
death penalty after being officially charged with premeditated murder 
yesterday. M

Apparently, authorities don't believe murder suspect Preeyanuch Nonwangchai's 
story that the killing was accidental and that she just meant to teach her 
alleged victim, Warisara Klinjui, 22, a lesson.

Preeyanuch and 3 alleged accomplices, Kawita Rachada, 26, Apiwan Satayabundit, 
28, and Wasin Namprom, 22, face premeditated murder charges. Another suspect, 
Jidarat Promkun, 21, is facing lesser charges and may not have been in the car 
at the time of the crime.

The only punishment given for a conviction for premeditated murder is the death 
penalty. However, Thailand has not actually carried out an execution since 
2009.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Tanasak Rittidejpaiboon said yesterday, "There is evidence that 
the suspects made preparations for the murder," reported The Nation.

Police plan to conclude their investigation in less than 3 months and will 
oppose bail. Not that any members of any of the suspects' families have come 
forward to try and post for the alleged killers.

Kawita's sister denied the widespread rumors that her younger sister had 
millions of baht flowing in and out of her bank account each month. However, 
that, paired with the trio's alleged drug use and possible drug dealing, 
spurred police to open an investigation into their finances that will go back 
to 2014. They expect to learn if the women were involved in large-scale drug 
dealing from this probe.

(source: Coconuts)

*******************

General Screwdriver murder suspects indicted over death of student


State prosecutors have forwarded the murder case of a Silpakorn University 
student to the Criminal Court, with the judicial process to begin in September.

Dechathorn Moonmanee and 13 other suspects were charged with premeditated 
murder and 4 other counts relating to the slaying of Teerapong Thitathan at a 
private dormitory in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi province, according to a 
court filing on Monday.

The case was unveiled on Wednesday and the charges carry a maximum penalty of 
death.

Teerapong, 24, a senior student at the university's Phetchaburi campus, was 
stabbed in the head with a screwdriver on Feb 25 and later succumbed to his 
wounds. The gang also attacked him with a 50-centimetre-long knife.

2 of Teerapong's friends were injured after the suspects broke into the 
dormitory.

The attack is believed to have stemmed from a quarrel over a girl between 
Teerapong's roommate and 1 of the assailants. Teerapong did not know the 
attackers.

Mr Dechaton, 20, the son of a police officer in Kalasin province, reportedly 
admitted to killing Teerapong with the screwdriver found inside the room.

All the suspects - except Mr Dechaton - were each released on bail for 700,000 
baht by the court, but they were forbidden to contact anyone connected with the 
case.

The court denied bail for the prime suspect, ordering him detained at the 
Special Remand Prison.

The court said the process of questioning the defendants and reviewing evidence 
is slated to begin on Sept 4.

(source: bangkokpost.com/)






SOUTH KOREA:

Sincerity of chief justice nominee over death sentence


Constitutional Court Chief-nominee Kim Yi-su said during his confirmation 
hearing at the National Assembly on Wednesday that he submitted a minority 
report opposing the 2014 disbandment of the Unified Progressive Party because 
the minor opposition party's platform per se was not in violation of Korea's 
"democratic basic order." In a country with a political party disbandment 
system, no party aiming to destroy the basic order would have such a platform 
written in black and white. According to his logic, even a communist party 
cannot be disbanded if it has a plausible platform mentioning "progressive 
democracy." Minority views should be respected in a democracy, but it does not 
mean that anti-constitutional minority opinions that effectively nullifies the 
party disbandment system should also be respected.

Kim was appointed as a Constitutional Court justice by the then opposition 
United Democratic Party (UDP). Among the top court's 19 major rulings on which 
the UDP presented its position during his term as justice, his rulings on all 
of the cases matched the party's position. Although Kim denied he followed the 
UDP's position, the objective results make us question whether he will be able 
to maintain political neutrality as Chief Justice.

He also apologized for giving a death penalty to a citizen who participated in 
an armed pro-democracy protest in Gwangju in 1980. Asked why he did not offer 
an apology during his 2012 confirmation hearing as a Constitutional Court 
justice nominee, Kim said that he attended the hearing without remembering what 
ruling he made a long time ago. Kim sentenced the citizen to death for killing 
four police officers. After serving 32 months in prison, the citizen was 
released, being exempt from his death sentence. Although he claimed that the 
death sentence had since been a "big burden" on him, one cannot say that it was 
the right attitude of a judge given that he did not aware what he punished the 
citizen for and whether the person was actually punished in accordance with his 
sentence.

Until the beginning of the hearing, Kim failed to submit a detailed report on 
how he spent special expenses granted to him for spending at his discretion. It 
is hard to understand his refusal to disclose his expenditures, considering 
past precedents and the latest scandal involving 2 senior prosecutors facing 
dismissal for their inappropriate use of such expenses. In 2013, Lee Dong-heup, 
the nominee for Supreme Court chief justice, stepped down as the nominee due to 
allegations of having embezzled some 300 million won (266,785 U.S. dollars).

(source: The Dong-A Ilbo)