[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Dec. 5



THAILAND:

Australian man Antonio Bagnato arrested following murder of ex-Hells Angel in 
Thailand


A key Australian suspect in the murder of former Sydney Hells Angel bikie and 
underworld figure Wayne Schneider will be extradited from Cambodia to Thailand 
where he could face a death sentence if found guilty.

Police arrested 26-year-old Antonio Bagnato in a raid on the cheap hotel in 
Phnom Penh and are holding him pending transfer to Thai authorities, according 
to Thong Piseth, a district Cambodian police chief.

Fairfax Media understands that Mr Bagnato is also wanted to for questioning 
over the execution-style shooting last year in Sydney of Brad Dillon, a father 
of 2 who had played junior rugby for Balmain Tigers.

Discussions had been underway between Mr Bagnato's lawyers and NSW detectives 
about bringing him back to Australia to face allegations relating to Mr 
Dillon's death, Fairfax Media has been told.

But Australian Federal Police say they had no involvement in the arrest of Mr 
Bagnato in Phnom Penn on Thursday night or arrangements to transfer him to 
Thailand where a conviction for murder carries a possible death sentence.

Earlier Mr Bagnato's Sydney lawyer Theo Tsambas said he believed his client 
handed himself in to police in Cambodia.

Mr Tsambas confirmed Mr Bagnato was an alleged "co-accused in the matters of 
Diego Carbone and the shooting at Leichhardt," referring to Mr Dillon's murder.

The case against Mr Carbone, who was charged with murder after being arrested 
as he attempted to board a flight to Thailand from Sydney last year, was 
mentioned in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday.

The court heard there had been "developments" in the case with an associated 
defendant being taken into custody in Cambodia.

Photographs in the Cambodian media on Friday showed a heavily tattooed Mr 
Bagnato sitting handcuffed in a chair wearing a black t-short and shorts.

Thai police say they have now identified the five masked gunmen who kidnapped 
Mr Schneider and buried his naked body with a broken neck in a two-metre grave 
in woodlands a short drive from his rented home in the Thai tourist city of 
Pattaya early Monday.

A 21 year-old American man identified as Tyler Gerard has confessed to his 
involvement in the murder in a major breakthrough into investigations into 
alleged Australian criminal networks in Thailand, according to Thai media 
reports.

Police said Mr Gerard, who was arrested on Wednesday as he attempted to cross 
the Thai border into Cambodia, initially only confessed to involvement in the 
kidnapping but later admitted during interrogation to also being involved in 
the murder.

He pointed police to a reservoir where Mr Schneider's clothes and other items 
were dumped after he was killed early Monday, Thai media quoted police as 
saying.

Police have prepared arrest warrants for three further suspects - two of them 
Australians and one American - as they stepped-up a nationwide hunt for them.

Police have also detained Mr Bagnato's Thai wife Siraphat Saimart, 25, over the 
rental of a black Toyota pick-up truck that was used in the abduction.

She told police she did not know the vehicle would be used in the kidnapping 
but that Mr Bagnato had instructed her to delete all the text messages in her 
mobile telephone that related to the renting the vehicle.

Ms Saimart is being held at a Thai military base.

Fairfax Media has reported a source in Melbourne as saying Mr Schneider was 
cashed up at the time of the abduction after recently returning to Thailand 
with the proceeds of a large drug trafficking operation in Europe.

The source said Mr Schneider's new bank balance was well known among Australian 
bikie gangs and that it was not the 1st time he had been stood over.

Fairfax Media also revealed former Victorian Comanchero president, Amad "Jay" 
Malkoun, who was once considered the state's most powerful bikie boss, was 
interviewed by Thai authorities as a witness to the abduction.

Malkoun told the Bangkok Post he slept through the entire ordeal and only 
learnt Schneider was missing from police.

Thai police and Australian law enforcement agencies have been investigating 
Australian motorcycle gang members in Thailand, most of whom do not have 
legitimate work permits, despite appearing to have extensive business interests 
in the country.

About a month ago, Mr Schneider reportedly arrived in Thailand, paying about 
$5000 to rent a villa for 6 months.

Mr Schneider was a convicted drug trafficker who had also been charged with 
obstructing the Australian Crime Commission after he failed to give evidence 
during a coercive hearing.

He had been a member of the Lone Wolf motorcycle gang, and crossed to the 
Angels' Sydney chapter in acrimonious circumstances about 2008.

Mr Schneider spent 18 months on NSW's "most wanted" list over the shooting of a 
bouncer in 2007 although the charges were later dropped.

He was found with more than $200,000 in betting chips and plaques from 
Melbourne's Crown Casino in 2009 that were suspected of being the proceeds of 
crime.

(source: smh.com.au)






SAUDI ARABIA:

Saudi Arabia Carrying Out 'Unprecedented Wave' Of Executions


An artist sentenced to death for apostasy. 3 young Shia Muslims - arrested when 
they were minors - faced with beheading. And reports in the Saudi press of the 
imminent execution of more than 50 people.

Saudi Arabia's use of the death penalty has sparked international alarm.

The country's human rights record has been back in the news since January, when 
liberal blogger Raif Badawi was flogged after being convicted of insulting 
Islam.

That same month, disturbing video emerged of a Burmese woman accused of murder 
screaming: "I did not kill" until the moment her head was severed with a sword 
on a Saudi street.

So far this year, more than 150 people have been executed - the highest figure 
recorded by human rights groups for 20 years.

Dozens of them were convicted of non-violent crimes, including drug offences. 
Human rights activists say many of the trials were unfair.

Lack of transparency

Amnesty International has described "an unprecedented wave of executions 
marking a grim new milestone in the Saudi Arabian authorities' use of the death 
penalty".

So what is behind the rise of executions? A lack of transparency in the Saudi 
legal system makes it difficult to know.

"There's a lot of speculation," says Adam Coogle, who monitors Saudi Arabia's 
use of the death penalty, for Human Rights Watch. "But nobody knows the real 
answer because the Saudis haven???t said, and they won't say."

This year has been an eventful one for Saudi Arabia. In January, King Salman 
succeeded his more liberal brother, King Abdullah, ushering in a new, more 
muscular foreign policy.

In March, the Saudis began a bombing campaign in Yemen against Houthi rebels in 
which thousands of civilians have been killed. And the Hajj stampede put the 
country under an uncomfortable spotlight.

Sunni extremism has remained a constant threat, with the Islamic State (IS) 
group or its affiliates killing at least 50 people in the Shia east and south 
of the country.

But the increase in the rate of executions actually began back in August 2014, 
according to human rights activists.

"Nearly all of those executed are sentenced on murder or drugs charges, and 
it's possible that the crime rate is going up, with more murders and more 
people bringing drugs into the country," says Mr Coogle.

Appearing tough

Another theory is linked to Saudi Arabia's restructuring, over the past few 
years, of its justice system.

"It could be that, with the increase in the number of courts and judges, the 
system has the capacity to address a backlog of cases," Mr Coogle says.

A 3rd theory is that it is part of a trend in the whole region towards more 
executions, with a steep increase in the use of the death penalty in Pakistan, 
and Jordan ending a moratorium on executions last December.

"There's a sense in which regional instability is encouraging leaders to try to 
appear tough," says Mr Coogle.

Among those facing execution are al-Qaeda militants, as well as Shia dissidents 
involved in an uprising in the east of the country that began in 2011.

"The death sentences are retribution against Shia protesters, some of whom were 
peaceful and some of whom may not have been," says Mr Coogle.

"There's a clear message that if you take to the streets to challenge the house 
of Saud, you may pay the ultimate price."

Capital punishment in Saudi Arabia

Beheading with a sword is the most common form of execution.

Executions are often carried out in public.

Crimes that carry the death penalty include murder, adultery, treason, gay sex, 
drug offences, sorcery and witchcraft, and apostasy.

Human rights activists say those accused often do not receive fair trials.

The families of prisoners facing the death penalty are not always informed in 
advance of executions.

The case of the young Shia protester, Ali al-Nimr, who has become a poster boy 
for those facing execution, has drawn appeals from world leaders for King 
Salman to show mercy and refuse to sign his death warrant.

He was convicted of a string of offences, including attacking police with 
petrol bombs in anti-government protests in the east of the country when he was 
only 17 and still at school.

His family says the confession he made was coerced and he signed it after being 
told he would then be released.

The fate of Palestinian poet and artist Ashraf Fayadh, 35, has also attracted 
international condemnation.

He was sentenced to death last week for apostasy, based on a book of poetry he 
wrote several years ago.

UN human rights experts say the sentence is in violation of international human 
rights law.

'Vicious' crackdown

Hundreds of poets and writers from around the world have also called for his 
release.

"The death sentence against Fayadh is the latest example of the kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia's lack of tolerance for freedom of expression and ongoing 
persecution of free thinkers," they said.

Indeed, when a Twitter user described Mr Fayadh's sentence as "Isis-like", one 
newspaper quoted a justice ministry official threatening to sue.

"Executions are not the only serious human rights concern," says Sevag 
Kechichian, Saudi researcher for Amnesty International.

"There's been a vicious and systematic crackdown on human rights activists and 
on peaceful dissent in general - including bloggers and online activists.

"If you are on the UN Human Rights Council, then you are obliged to uphold the 
highest standards in promoting and protecting human rights."

Saudi Arabia, controversially, became a member of the UN Human Rights Council 
in 2013, for a 3-year term.

Leaked diplomatic cables released earlier this year suggest British and Saudi 
diplomats agreed to support each other's election to the 47-member council.

The Saudi authorities reject international criticism over their human rights 
record, saying their legal system - based on Sharia principles - should be 
respected.

Reported executions in 2014:

China: figures not collated as details are a state secret

Iran: at least 289

Saudi Arabia: at least 90 (and at least 150 in 2015 so far)

Iraq: at least 61

USA: 35

Sudan: at least 23

Yemen: at least 22

Egypt: at least 15

Somalia: at least 14

Jordan: 11

Equatorial Guinea: 9

Pakistan: 7

Afghanistan: 6

Taiwan: 5

Belarus: at least 3

Japan: at least 3

Vietnam: 3

Malaysia: at least 2

Palestinian territories: at least 2

Singapore: 2 United Arab Emirates: 1

[source: Amnesty International: Death Sentences and Executions 2014]

(source: MintPress News)






NIGERIA:

Man sentenced to HANG to death after he confessed to stealing just 50 pounds 
from 3 people


AN ARMED thief has been sentenced to death by hanging after robbing less than 
50 pounds from 3 people.

David Olugboyega owned up to the crime to police before a court appearance on 
Thursday.

Judge John Adeyeye told him: "The accused is hereby sentenced to death by 
hanging. This will serve as a deterrent to others in the society.

"May God have mercy on your soul."

Armed with guns and swords, he robbed 26 pounds from Kola Owolabi, 16.50 
poounds from Beatrice Olawunmi and 5 pounds from Idowu Abiodun .

The crime took place on Araromi Street in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria according to 
prosecutor Alaba Adeyemi.

He took part in a series of other robbery operations, Mr Adeyemi told Ado Ekiti 
High Court.

Mr Adeyeye added: "An accused may be convicted on his own confession alone as 
long as the court was satisfied.

"Based on the confessional statement of the accused, the court found him guilty 
as charged.

"Besides, the prosecution has also proved his case beyond reasonable doubt by 
providing s7 witnesses."

More than 650 people were handed the death penalty in Nigeria last year - up 
from 131 in 2013, according to Amnesty International.

Among them were 54 soldiers who refused to fight the terrorist group Boko Haram 
- which is seeking create an Islamist state in Nigeria.

The soldiers, who appeared before a court in the capital city of Abuja, are 
expected to face a firing squad.

Lawyer Chinonye Obiagwu said: "There is huge public support for the death 
penalty - about 65 %.

"When there is armed conflict there is always a tendency for the society to 
support capital punishment, not only for military offences but also for crimes 
like armed robbery.

"So armed conflict increases the possibility of conviction and sentence."

(source: express.co.uk)



SINGAPORE:

Singapore double murder: Ex-cop gets death penalty


Former cop Iskandar Rahmat was sentenced to hang for the murders of a father 
and son pair yesterday after a Singapore High Court judge found gaps in his 
claim that the deaths resulted from him acting in self-defence.

Instead, evidence points to the 36-year-old arming himself for a robbery, and 
carrying out a relentless and cruel stabbing frenzy with the intention of 
silencing the victims, said Justice Tay Yong Kwang. "There could be no doubt 
that the exceptions of private defence and sudden fight were totally 
inapplicable in the situation here," the judge added, in convicting Iskandar 
under Section 300(a) of the Penal Code, the most severe form of murder which 
entails mandatory death.

His lawyer Shashi Nathan told reporters they will be appealing.

On July 10, 2013, the body of Tan Chee Heong, 42, was dragged along Upper 
Serangoon Road under a silver Toyota Camry, shocking passers-by. The bloody 
trail led back to 14J Hillside Drive, about one km away, where his father Tan 
Boon Sin's body was found with multiple stab wounds.

The shocking double murder dominated headlines, especially after Iskandar, then 
an active police officer, was named as the suspect. After a 54-hour manhunt, 
the 14-year veteran in the police force was arrested at a popular eatery in 
Johor Baru.

Over a 9-day trial that started in October, the court heard that Iskandar had 
hatched the plan to rob the elder Tan's money to avert a possible sacking over 
his "financial embarrassment." He carried out his scheme a day before a 
deadline to make a S$50,000 (RM150,597) lump sum payment to clear his S$65,000 
bank debt.

A grab-and-run job was the plan, Iskandar claimed. But Justice Tay threw this 
out yesterday, pointing out that only a "very foolish prospective thief" would 
adopt such a plan that involved many contingencies.

For instance, the escape plan involved making it several hundred metres to the 
main road to hail a cab without being spotted by Tan's neighbours. Or that he 
would be able to get a taxi quickly, while not raising the suspicions of the 
driver.

"The accused did not appear to me to be such a foolish person. He would not 
have come up with such an inane plan," said Justice Tay. "His attitude about 
his escape plan after the intended theft stood in stark contrast to the 
meticulous planning that he made for the charade with (Tan Boon Sin) earlier 
that day."

The judge was referring to the ruse cooked up by Iskandar to get the elder Tan 
to take out around S$200,000 cash from a safety deposit box at Certis CISCO in 
Paya Lebar. Tan was to remove the money and place a "CCTV camera" inside, as 
part of a confidential operation to nab thieves whom the police had 
intelligence would strike again.

Even if Iskandar's plan that day was indeed a "simple grab-and-run", it defies 
logic that he did not take the ample opportunities for him to see the plan 
through, noted Justice Tay.

The "golden moment" came when the elder Tan opened the gate for Iskandar to 
step out for a smoke, he said. The bag of money was sitting in the living room, 
and Iskandar had a clear escape path. It was "unbelievable" that Iskandar took 
"5 long minutes" smoking outside, rather than look for the chance to flee with 
the money.

No ambush

Iskandar's claim of self-defence was also not applicable, the judge ruled, 
saying he did not believe Iskandar's account that the elder Tan had flown into 
a rage and charged at him with a knife, upon realising the scam. Moments 
earlier, the victim had been "trusting and hospitable", the judge said. "The 
alleged sudden and complete change in (Tan's) attitude was also not consonant 
with the evidence."

In addition, the number of wounds dealt to each victim - more than a dozen on 
the face and neck regions - also belied Iskandar's claim that he was trying to 
fend off an assault.

Not all of Iskandar's account of the events that day were dismissed by Justice 
Tay. For instance, he accepted that Iskandar was not lying in ambush behind the 
wooden main door for the younger Tan, contrary to the prosecution's case.

Neither did he agree with prosecutors that Iskandar was "completely nonchalant" 
about running over the younger Tan because he wanted him dead anyway. "The car 
was the accused's means of escape and not a mean murder machine," he added.

Nevertheless, Justice Tay said his findings show that Iskandar caused the death 
of both Tans by "attacking them cruelly and relentlessly with the clear 
intention of causing death" and sentenced him to hang.

In front of his own family and friends, as well as that of his victims, 
Iskandar stared blankly at the judge as the sentence was read out to him.

In the 20 minutes he was granted to speak with his family after the verdict, 
many of Iskandar's relatives and friends were sobbing as he smiled back at them 
behind a glass pane.

Outside court, Nathan said his client was putting on brave front for his family 
even though he was disappointed with the verdict.

The Tans' family members declined to be interviewed. The elder Tan's widow did 
not attend the hearing. Instead, she stayed home, keeping the curtains drawn 
against the press camped outside. After a while, a relative, who declined to be 
named, told reporters that the widow is now living by herself in the house.

"She has practically become a person who cannot accept reality anymore. It's 
not something ordinary that has happened to the family, you have to understand 
their situation," he added in Mandarin before shooing the media away.

themalaymailonline.com)






ST KITTS:

Consensus Needed Before Changes to Law of Death Penalty


Capital punishment remains on the books in St. Kitts and Nevis and any change 
in the policy must be preceded by a robust and comprehensive debate.

This was stressed by Attorney General, Vincent Byron, during this week's 
edition of the Government's radio programme "Working for You." He acknowledged 
that the world has changed significantly over the years and that brought with 
it a different sensibility including the sanctity of life.

"It is something that the United Nations (UN) has overtime been bringing to the 
table," Attorney General Byron stated. Should the state be involved in taking 
life? ... and so there has been more and more pressure being put on governments 
around the world to adhere to the principle of the sanctity of life and should 
we find alternative ways of punishing people who have done so (taken a life)."

That debate is expected to be taken up in various countries in the Caribbean, 
particularly among CARICOM Member States. Capital punishment remains legal in a 
majority of these countries and Honourable Byron, who also serves as St. Kitts 
and Nevis' Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, said it was a matter of 
sovereignty.

"Should external forces, whether from the European Union (EU) or [others] tell 
us what to do?" he questioned. "Our peoples are very much in support of the 
death penalty and if it is that we are to move towards the concept that we move 
it from the books, we would need to have debates in our society, a lot of 
debate, and we need to have consensus for us to be able to change the laws as 
they currently stand."

According to prison statistics, the last time the death sentence was carried 
out in St. Kitts and Nevis was on December 19, 2008.

(source: SKNVibes.com)