[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 2




SAUDI ARABIA----execution

Saudi national executed in Madinah for stabbing man to death----Saudi uses the 
death penalty for several offences including murder, drug-related crimes and 
terrorism


A Saudi national was executed in Madinah on Wednesday for stabbing a man to 
death, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Ahmed bin Ali bin Samer al-Mutairi was found guilty of killing another Saudi 
national, Khalid bin Mohammed bin Fahad al-Mutairi, by stabbing him with a 
knife multiple times in different parts of his body after a quarrel between 
them.

Security authorities arrested the accused, and following an investigation, he 
was charged with the crime and brought before the criminal court.

The weapon he used was also produced in court as evidence and, after he was 
found guilty of the charges, he was sentenced to death, the report said.

The death sentence was upheld by the appeals court and the Supreme Court, and a 
royal order was issued to carry out the verdict.

Ahmed bin Ali bin Samer al-Mutairi was executed in the general prison in 
Madinah, SPA reported.

The interior ministry asserted the keenness of the government “to maintain 
security and achieve justice” and punish violators of such heinous crimes.

Saudi Arabia uses the death penalty for several offences including murder, 
drug-related crimes and terrorism.

Earlier this week, a Pakistani national and two Egyptians were executed in the 
kingdom for smuggling drugs.

Read more: One Pakistani national, two Egyptians executed in Saudi for 
smuggling drugs

In November, a Saudi national was executed in the country for shooting to death 
another citizen, while another Saudi national was executed in October for 
shooting and killing a man in the region of Asir.

3 Saudi nationals were also executed in the kingdom’s Qatif region for robbing 
and killing 5 Indian nationals in October.

(source: gulfbusiness.com)






ZIMBABWE:

Man to hang despite condom provocation defence


A man of Ndola will spend the rest of his life in jail after the Court of 
Appeal dismissed a challenge against a mandatory death penalty for murdering 
his wife when he found female condoms in her hand bag.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Malangisha Kapwepwe’s appeal against a mandatory 
death penalty for killing his wife.

Facts are that on June 28, 2017, Kapwepwe killed his wife, Susan Chipulu, after 
a fight when she returned home drunk with condoms in her hand bag.
The arresting officer told the court that during investigations at Kapwepwe’s 
home, the convict was found hiding under a bed.'

(source: daily-mail.co.zm)




MALAYSIA:

Court upholds death sentences on Chinese woman, M'sian man


The Court of Appeal today upheld the death sentence imposed on a Chinese woman 
for trafficking 2,156.8 grams of methamphetamine found inside 3
pillows in her luggage bag at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang in 
2013.

A 3-member panel chaired by Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid unanimously dismissed the 
appeal by Yan Lanhua, in her 30s, to set aside her conviction and death 
sentence passed by the Shah Alam High Court on Sept 28, 2017.

Justice Umi Kalthum, who presided over the appeal with justices Rhodzariah 
Bujang and Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, said the panel found that the appeal by 
Yan had no merit.

“We, therefore, affirm the appellant’s conviction and sentence imposed by the 
High Court,” Justice Umi Kalthum said after hearing submissions by lawyer Mak 
Kah Keong, who represented Yan, and deputy public prosecutor K Mangai.

Yan was found guilty of trafficking 2,156.8 grams of methamphetamine at the 
Passenger Inspection Branch 2, LCCT, in Sepang, Selangor, upon arrival from 
Shenzhen, China, at 4.15 pm on Nov 15, 2013. The offence, under Section 
39(B)(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, carries a mandatory death penalty 
upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, Yan had carried a blue luggage bag 
containing children’s items, among them 3 small pillows, shoes and clothing 
and, during an inspection, the drugs were found in the pillows.

During the trial, Yan denied she had knowledge of the drugs and had alleged 
that the blue bag was given to her by an African named “Baba” at the airport 
and she had a quick glance but did not see any suspicious items in the bag.

She said “Baba” requested her to deliver the bag to his friend in Malaysia and 
he (Baba) had paid for her air ticket and given her some pocket money for her 
stay in Kuala Lumpur.

In another case, the Court of Appeal also affirmed the conviction and death 
sentence passed on a man, Sharin Abu Bakar, 41, for trafficking of 27.30 grams 
mixed of heroine and Monoacetylmorphine, in Jalan Kembia 10, Taman Puteri 
Wangsa, Pelangi Indah, Johor Bahru in Johor at 10.30 pm on March 12, 2016.

Justice Mohtarudin Baki, who led a 3-man bench comprising Rhodzariah Bujang and 
Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, held that the panel unanimously found that the 
issues raised in the appeal had no merit.

“The evidence is solid and the conviction is safe. As such, the appeal is 
dismissed, and the conviction and sentence retained,” he said after hearing 
submissions by lawyer Andrew Lourdes, who represented Sharin, and DPP Dhiya 
Syazwani Izyan Mohd Akhir.

Sharin had appealed against the Johor Bahru High Court decision of Aug 27, 
2017, which convicted him and sentenced him to death after finding him guilty.

(source: malaysiakini.com)




INDONESIA:

Activists criticize KPK’s idea for death penalty in disaster-related
bribery


Activists have opposed the recent Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) 
announcement that it might seek the death penalty for the bribery suspects 
connected to the botched construction of a drinking water treatment system 
(SPAM) in a disaster-hit area in Central Sulawesi.

On Friday in Jakarta, the KPK named 8 individuals — consisting of 4 officials 
of the Public Works and Housing Ministry’s SPAM working units and 4 
businesspeople — suspects for allegedly paying and accepting bribes related to 
12 SPAM projects across the country.

One of the projects was the procurement of water pipes as part of the SPAM 
reconstruction in Donggala regency, Central Sulawesi — one of the areas most 
damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in September. More than 2,000 people were 
killed by the disasters, while about 206,000 others were displaced.

(source: Jakarta Post)