[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

May 28




KENYA:

Former prison officer handed the death penalty for killing girlfriend



An ex-prison officer was sentenced to face the death penalty for the murder of 
his girlfriend at Zimmerman estate in Nairobi 14 years ago.

The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by Patrick Daniel Lesadala, who shot 
Diana Karambu Nthiba four times at her house on April 3, 2005.

Appellate judges Asike-Makhandia, Gatembu Kairu and Agnes Murgor upheld the 
conviction and death sentence imposed on Lesadala by High Court judge Fred 
Ochieng on June 19, 2013.

The judges said witnesses had told the court that Lesadala and Karambu had been 
having a difficult relationship.

Detectives told the court that the murder was witnessed by the victim’s then 
12-year-old son.

“Given the grisly, ghastly and callous nature and manner in which the appellant 
committed the offence, and right in the face of the deceased’s 12-year-old son, 
the death penalty was merited and we see no need to interfere with it,” said 
the judges.

Lesadala is said to have spent the night at Karambu's house but she had 
reportedly travelled to her uncle’s house in Dagoretti.

However, when Karambu returned in the morning, a quarrel broke out between the 
2 and Lesadala killed her.

Later, Lesadala would confess to Sergeant John Onyango, who operated a bar at 
the prison, and whipped out the pistol and placed it on the table with 5 live 
rounds of ammunition and 5 spent cartridges.

MPs stand against femicide

The pistol and ammunition were surrendered to the Deputy Officer in charge of 
the prison and Lesadala taken into custody.

He was later taken to the scene of the shooting where they found the body of 
the deceased covered in blood.

The rise in femicide cases in Kenya has seen Women leaders, under their EMBRACE 
movement, launch a campaign against the vice.

EMBRACE has organised a vigil to commemorate the young Kenyan women who have 
been victims of Gender Based Violence.

The initiative dubbed “Her Life Matters” comes against the backdrop of recent 
killings witnessed among partners in relationships, that has drawn concerns 
across the country.

(source: pyulselive.co.ke)








SINGAPORE:

Death penalty an effective deterrent



Law Minister K. Shanmugam highlighted how the Pakatan Harapan government has 
made 3 requests to stop executions of Malaysians in Singapore since it took 
power in Malaysia a year ago (No exceptions for Malaysians on death row: 
Shanmugam, May 25).

He said we have to respect that some Malaysian ministers are "ideologically 
opposed" to the death penalty.

With regard to the case of Malaysian drug mule Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, who is 
on death row here, if the Malaysian ministers believe his life is precious, 
they should consider that drug trafficking can also destroy the precious lives 
of many drug abusers.

The death penalty has been shown to be an effective deterrent among drug 
offenders.

We should not be distracted from doing the right thing for Singapore.

Ong Heng Poh

(source: Letter to the Editor, Straits Times)








PHILIPPINES:

Velasco bats for revival of death penalty for rape, drug-related crimes



Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will push for the restoration of the capital 
punishment if elected Speaker this coming July.

In an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), Velasco said the 
re-imposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes would set a “good 
deterrent” against wrongdoers. “Honestly, I would take a second look at the 
death penalty. I’d pursue it mainly because I think it would be a good 
deterrent,” said Velasco.

But Velasco clarified that his version of capital punishment will only focus on 
2 offenses: rape and those involved in the illegal drug trade. “I’d pass the 
death penalty for those involved in drugs and those involved in rape. Just 
those 2 crimes,” he said.

In March 2017, Velasco was among the 217 lawmakers who voted in favor of House 
Bill 4727 that re-imposes the capital punishment on the following offenses: (1) 
importation of dangerous drugs; (2) sale, trading, administration, 
dispensation, delivery, distribution, and transportation of dangerous drugs; 
(3) maintenance of a den, dive, or resort where any dangerous drug is used or 
sold; (4) manufacture of dangerous drugs; and (5) possession of 10 grams or 
more of dangerous drugs.

The counterpart bill in the Senate, however, remains pending.

(source: politics.com.ph)








INDIA:

Man Given Death Sentence For Killing Differently-Abled Younger Brother----Ram 
Prasad Sahu, who had earlier served jail term in another case, was held guilty 
under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for brutally killing his younger 
brother, Moti, in front of a huge mob on February 23, 2017.



The court of additional district and session judge was awarded death penalty to 
Ram Prasad Sahu.

Jaipur: A 42-year-old man has been awarded death sentence by a local court for 
killing his disabled younger brother.

The court of additional district and session judge, Jaipur metropolitan no. 14, 
awarded death penalty to Ram Prasad Sahu on Monday.

Mr Sahu, who had earlier served jail term in another case, was held guilty 
under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for brutally killing his younger 
brother, Moti, in front of a huge mob on February 23, 2017.

"The judge observed that there is no chance of improvement in his conduct and 
he is a threat to the society," public prosecutor Alok Sharma said.

(source: ndtv.com)








BANGLADESH:

Nusrat murder: PBI to recommend death penalty for Sirajuddaula, 15 others



Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Chief Banaj Kumar Majumder has said they 
will file a charge sheet in court, seeking the death penalty for the 16 accused 
of murdering Nusrat.

He stated this at a press briefing at PBI Headquarters, in Dhanmondi, on 
Tuesday morning.

The PBI chief said: “The charge sheet will be filed on Wednesday. All the 16 
accused are already in our custody.

“We will seek the death penalty for them.”

Police has completed their investigation and confirmed that the 16 accused were 
directly or indirectly involved in the murder.

According to the police, they have gathered information from 92 witnesses, 
among whom seven have given their statements.

Nusrat, who was an Alim examinee, suffered 80% burns to her body when she was 
set on fire on April 6 by 4 burqa-clad assailants—who were allegedly followers 
of Sirajuddaula— on the roof of the madrasa at Sonagazi. They killed her 
because she refused to withdraw an attempted rape case her family had filed 
against Sirajuddaula.

After she was set on fire, her family filed another case against 8 people, 
including Sirajuddaula, on April 8.

The 18-year-old girl died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on April 10, 
after 5 days in treatment.

Most of the accused have been arrested and remanded for different time periods, 
with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saying that every person involved in Nusrat’s 
murder will be brought to book.

(source: Dhaka Tribune)

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

Nasim seeks death penalty for food adulterators



Branding food adulterators as the biggest terrorists in society, former health 
minister and senior ruling party leader Mohammad Nasim on Monday demanded 
capital punishment of them.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion on safe food, other speakers also echoed 
Nasim’s sentiment seeking maximum punishment for the food adulterators as part 
of a move to ensure safe food for people.

“Those who adulterate food in this month of Ramadan should be awarded death 
sentence as they’re killing a huge number of people by contaminating food. 
They’re the biggest terrorists in society,” he said.

Bhejal O Madak Birodhi Andolon, a platform against food adulteration and drug 
abuse, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.

Nasim, also the spokesman of the ruling 14-party alliance, said a social 
movement is necessary to be launched to ensure safe food and get rid of 
malpractice by food traders.

He said the country’s many people are suffering from various diseases, 
including cancer and kidney failure, due to food adulteration. “Why do you 
(traders) adulterate food when so many people are getting sick consuming 
those?”

The AL leader said traders in West Bengal of India cannot sell any fish without 
testing by sanitary inspectors. “But our sanitary inspectors don’t work, and 
they only wait for salary at the end of month.”

Nasim said he thinks the business bodies should come forward to stop food 
adulteration.

He also questioned as to why the business bodies, including the Federation of 
Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), do not suspend the 
membership of adulterators from their associations. “I think, the level of food 
adulteration can be reduced substantially by giving capital punishment by court 
to some offenders.”

The former minister urged the Home Minister to take the issue seriously and 
ensure stern action against those involved in contaminating food.

He thanked the media for continuing a strong campaign to stop food adulteration 
in the country.

Nasim bemoaned that the food traders and the owners of superstores now lack the 
sense of humanity. “It’s difficult to get any food items in the country which 
is free from adulteration.”

“Even, medicine companies also indulge in adulteration.”

He also observed that some food adulterators got involved with Awami League 
since it has been in power for a long time. “So, we must drop them from the 
party.”

Former Industries Minister Dilip Barua said many people are now being forced to 
go abroad selling their land and valuable property for receiving treatment for 
various diseases caused by the consumption of contaminated food.

Alongside taking stern action against those involved in food adulteration, he 
said a strong social movement will have to be waged to free the nation from 
food adulteration.

(source: The Daily Star)



EGYPT:

Egypt sentences juveniles to death in violation of own laws, says rights 
group----Executions have surged in Egypt since Sisi came to power, with 
children and women among the victims, says Reprieve



At least 2,443 people, including minors at the time of their arrest, have been 
sentenced to death by Egyptian courts between 2011 and 2018, according to 
rights group Reprieve.

The majority, the organisation says, have been handed out since President Abdel 
Fatah el-Sisi seized control of the country in a 2013 military coup.

A death penalty index compiled by UK-based Reprieve identified 12 cases of 
children under the age of 18 facing the death penalty, in violation of Egypt’s 
Child Law and the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child.

One minor sentenced to death, Ahmed Saddouma, was already in detention when an 
attempted assassination he is accused of committing occurred.

Saddouma, who was 17 years old at the time of his arrest, was forcibly 
disappeared for 80 days until his family was able to see him.

His father Khaled Mostafa Saddouma told Middle East Eye that he was “beaten and 
tortured” to confess.

“It is a political trial based on trumped-up charges,” Saddouma's father said. 
“I saw marks of torture on his body, which he said happened during 
interrogations.”

In February 2018, despite evidence that he was not present during the alleged 
crimes and that he was a minor at the time of his arrest, Saddouma was 
sentenced to death along with 3 adult defendants. The verdict is currently 
under appeal.

According to Reprieve, it is possible that Saddouma’s detention was due to his 
participation at peaceful protests alongside a group of football fans known as 
Ultras.

“In reality, Ahmed is no criminal. He is a secondary school student who excels 
at karate and loves studying French,” the group said.

Forced confession

The most recent Egyptian to be sentenced to death despite his age was Karim 
Hemeida Youssef, 20, who was sentenced to death by Judge Mohamed Nagi Shehata 
on 6 April along with six others on charges of arson and possession of weapons.

The final verdict is due to be announced on 22 June.

Youssef was not included in the Reprieve report, which only studied the years 
2013-18.

According to his family, Youssef was 17 years old and a high school student 
when the crimes he is accused of were allegedly committed.

Youssef was arrested in January 2016 and subjected to “enforced disappearance” 
for 42 days, according to Ahmed Attar, a London-based human rights researcher.

He is currently held in Qanater prison in the Menofia governorate, north of the 
capital Cairo.

Like Saddouma, Youssef’s father Ali Hemeida Youssef said his son was subjected 
to torture during his disappearance.

According to Youssef senior, following his arrest his son was asked whether he 
took part in an attack on a Cairo hotel in January 2016.

“When he denied the charges, a security officer electrocuted him repeatedly all 
over his body until he was forced to confess,” Youssef’s father said.

When Youssef senior saw marks of torture on his son’s body during the 1st visit 
following his detention, he told his son to request a forensic examination. The 
request, however, was denied by the prosecution.

Reprieve estimates that in the past 5 years, Egypt has executed at least 83 
people and recommended initial death sentences for more than 2,000 others, most 
of them political prisoners.

Among those sentenced to death, at least ten people were convicted of offences 
that occurred before they reached the age of 18. At least 32 women have also 
received confirmed death sentences during Sisi's rule, according to Reprieve.

Sisi rose to power in 2013 by leading a coup against Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's 
first freely elected civilian president.

In the years that have followed, Sisi's government has embarked on a sweeping 
crackdown on any opposition or dissent, jailing tens of thousands of political 
prisoners.

Middle East Eye has approached the Egyptian government for comment but received 
no response at the time of publication.

(source: middleeaseeye.net)








IRAN:

Member Of "Death Committee" Becomes Deputy Speaker of Iran Regime's 
Parliament----The leaders of the mullahs regime are a bunch of revolutionary 
guards, torturers and thieves



Yesterday, head henchman Abdolreza Masri, a member of the Death Committee in 
Kermanshah province during the massacre of political prisoners in 1988, became 
deputy speaker of the parliament of religious fascism ruling Iran.

Between 1981 and 1986, when the criminal mullah Ali Fallahian was the religious 
judge of Kermanshah, Mesri was the head interrogator and torturer in this 
province. This henchman was the deputy of the Kurdistan Prosecutor's office for 
a while and has been serving as a prosecutor in the Kermanshah prosecutor's 
office and has been active in the torture and execution of many political 
prisoners.

He was a member of the “Death Committee” in Kermanshah province during the 
massacre of political prisoners in 1988 as a representative of the 
Revolutionary Prosecutor and sent a large number of political prisoners to the 
gallows.

Abdolreza Mesri, who must be brought to justice for crimes against humanity, 
was appointed Minister of Welfare and Social Security in 2006 and as the 
Ambassador of the Mullahs in Venezuela in 2009.

During the infighting within the regime in recent years, it has been revealed 
that Mesri’s education credentials was fake and he has had many cases of 
embezzlement and corruption in the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security.

In the Velayat-e Faqih regime, ministers, ambassadors, members of parliament, 
governors and other officials are either revolutionary guards or torturers. The 
members of the clerical parliament, whose speaker is a Revolutionary Guard and 
his deputy was involved in the massacre of 1988, have a black record of 
repression, torture, execution, export of terrorism and fundamentalism, and the 
plunder of the property of the Iranian people.

(source: Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran)








IRAQ:

Iraq sentences 2 more French ISIL members to death----Karam el-Harchaoui and 
Brahim Nejara are among 6 Frenchmen handed capital punishment in Iraq for ISIL 
membership.



Iraq has sentenced 2 more French ISIL members to death and their execution is 
expected within 3 days.

Tuesday's ruling brings the total number of French former members of the 
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) to 6.

The men - identified as Karam el-Harchaoui and Brahim Nejara, both in their 30s 
- are among a group of 12 French citizens who were captured by the US-backed 
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in neighbouring Syria and handed over to Iraq in 
January.

4 other French ISIL members - identified as Mustapha Merzoughi, Kevin Gonot, 
Leonard Lopez and Salim Machou - were sentenced to death on Sunday and Monday.

Iraqi courts have placed on trial hundreds of foreigners, condemning many to 
life in prison and others to death, although foreign ISIL members have not yet 
been executed.

The trials have been criticised by rights groups, which say they often rely on 
evidence obtained through torture.

They have also raised the question of whether suspected ISIL fighters should be 
tried in the region or repatriated, in the face of strong public opposition at 
home.

French position

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said earlier on Tuesday that his 
government was working to spare the group of condemned Frenchmen from execution 
after Iraq sentenced them to death, though France has made no effort to bring 
back the captured ISIL fighters.

Drian also reiterated France's position but said the ISIL members should be 
tried where they committed their crimes.

"We are multiplying efforts to avoid the death penalty for these ... French 
people," he said on France Inter radio.

He did not elaborate, but said he spoke to Iraq's president about the case.

France is outspoken against the death penalty globally. The sentencings in Iraq 
come amid a controversy about the legal treatment of thousands of foreign 
fighters who joined ISIL in Syria and Iraq.

SDF, a Kurdish-led military alliance, spearheaded the fight against ISIL in 
Syria and has handed over to Iraq hundreds of suspected ISIL members in recent 
months.

(source: aljazeera.com)