[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 13



THAILAND:

Thailand's Junta Adds Death Penalty to Anti Corruption Law----Between 1934 and 
1977, a total of 213 prisoners were executed by gun


Under the new law published in the Royal Gazette on Sunday, officials of both 
Thailand and foreign countries who have demanded or accepted bribes may now 
face the death penalty .

The law - the No. 3 amendment to the 1999 anti-corruption law - applies to 
officials of Thailand, foreign states or international organizations.

Section 123/2 increases the punishments on officials who have demanded, 
accepted or agreed to accept assets or other benefits for themselves or others 
in order to do or refrain from doing anything in office, whether it is 
legitimate not.

They will now be punished with imprisonment from 5 to 20 years, life in prison, 
a fine from 100,000 to 400,000 baht, or death.

Section 123/3 provides anyone who has done or refrained from doing anything in 
office for assets or other benefits he has demanded, accepted or agreed to 
accept before assuming that position shall face a jail term from 5 to 20 years, 
life in prison or a fine of 100,000 to 400,000 baht, but not death.

(source: Chiangrai Times)






NIGERIA:

Governor Oshiomhole Advocates Stiffer Penalties Against Rape, Child Abuse


Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has advocated stiffer penalties against 
rapists, paedophiles and anyone involved in child abuse to serve as deterrence 
to others.

He also urged the people of the state to stop giving alms to child beggars to 
discourage the rising trend of child beggars in the state.

Addressing the Chairman and members of the International Federation of Women 
Lawyers (FIDA) in the state, led by Mrs. Stella Ojemen, who paid him a courtesy 
visit at the Government House, at the weekend, Oshiomhole said: "Edo State 
Government appreciates that you are addressing some of the challenges that 
government ought to have addressed like ensuring that we all mount campaigns 
against rape and defilement as well as ensure that when people have carried out 
these heinous crimes, that they are properly arrested and diligently prosecuted 
with a view to sending them to prison.

"We have discussed this time and again at our Executive Council Meetings and at 
a point, we asked the Attorney-General to review the laws such that the number 
of years a convict gets will commensurate with the severe nature of rape and 
defilement".

Oshiomhole continued: "We are concerned, we have discussed this and we have a 
feeling that the number of reported cases are on the increase. We also know 
that because of the nature of our environment, there will be several others 
that may not even be reported at all.

"When you look at the sheer number of rape cases that are recorded, it is clear 
that across the country, both rape and defilement cases are increasing and 
therefore this calls for tougher measures on the part of those strengthening 
the law and providing for stiffer and harsher punishments than what is 
currently obtained but also ensure that the few cases that are reported are 
properly prosecuted with a view to securing conviction.

"Consistent with our commitment in this area, I would advise that whenever you 
have such cases, when you are likely to have much more information than even 
the Ministry of Justice or Police, and there might be cases where efforts are 
made to cover up cases reported in some quarters, you are an non-governmental 
organisation (NGO) and might wish to open up such cases. So I will advise you 
to liaise effectively with the Attorney-General and also encourage the Local 
Government chapters to ensure that all cases are reported."

The governor however noted that the state has recorded a high level of victory 
in the fight against kidnapping and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that 
kidnappers are completely put out of business in the state.

He said: "I appreciate the issues you raised about kidnapping and the peculiar 
challenges that female victims suffer but we are dealing with it globally and 
we have recorded a lot of achievements. We have presently up to 50 cases of 
kidnappers that have been arrested and so the era of impunity where the state 
appears helpless is over.

"The unfortunate thing though is that as we apprehend we still have more young 
people going into the business. We will sustain our effort at arresting and 
ensuring prosecution. We have amended the law to provide for death penalty for 
proven cases of kidnapping and also to demolish the houses of the kidnappers or 
any premises used for kidnapping because we feel that landlords are liable, 
they are supposed to verify the character and status of their tenants. These 
are some of the measures we have taken to ensure that we make the state a lot 
safer for our people."

The governor called on the people of the state to join hands with government 
and other non-governmental organisations to ensure that incidents of child 
labour and street begging are completely wiped out of the state, adding that 
Edo people are not lazy and will never succumb to begging as an alternative to 
hard work.

He said, "on the issue of child labour, I am disturbed at the growing numbers 
of beggars and their children that I see along the streets and a lot of these 
people are people who have migrated to Edo these past few months and unless we 
take firm measures, Edo may become a haven for beggars that have been thrown 
out of their own states of origin where begging has been prohibited. I have 
directed the Commissioner for Women Affair to take firm measures to bring this 
incidence to an end.

"Edo cannot be a haven for beggars. We recognise the economic challenges, but 
begging is not and will not be the solution and exposing children to begging is 
unhealthy and I will even appeal to Edo people not to give alms to child 
beggars because it doesn't help because women and their fathers push this 
children to the street, they use them in the manner they do hoping they will 
attract pity.

The more pity we show to those kids, the more they are subjected to these 
dehumanising practices. This is not a thing to be encouraged."

Earlier, Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers, Edo State 
branch, Mrs. Stella Ojemen said they were in Government House to promote the 
rights of women and children.

She said, "We are not profit making and not a religious organisation, 
non-political. Our duties are simple: to ensure that women and children who are 
confronted with all kinds of issues are protected. We are disturbed by the 
incidence of child labour and trafficking of women in the state and with the 
plight of widows who are being disturbed by the families of the husband.

"We are also worried by the incidence of female gender mutilation. We are also 
worried about the maltreatment of women and children in crisis zones and we are 
really disturbed by all of these issues."

(source: This Day)






MALAYSIA:

Cabbie escapes the gallows


A taxi driver escaped the gallows after the High Court here, today, acquitted 
and freed him from the charge of abetting an armed robbery and allegedly 
helping gun down a man, 3 years ago.

Judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin made the decision after the prosecution failed to 
establish a prima facie case against Lim Chee Kim, 50, who was accused of 
abetting Lim Long Chuan, 56, to fatally shoot Mohd Rahmat Jul, 34, using a 
Smith & Wesson 32S during a robbery at an Internet Cafe, No 41, Jalan 1/32, 
Taman Jinjang Baru, Jinjang Selatan, Sentul, here at 6.30am on Aug 27, 2012.

He was charged under Section 3A of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 
read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code which carries a death penalty 
upon conviction.

On May 16, Long Chuan pleaded guilty to using the Smith & Wesson to fire at 
Rahmat and was sentenced to death by the same court.

Deputy public prosecutor Aznika Mohd Anas prosecuted while counsel Shavin Nair 
represented the accused.

(source: themalaymailonline.com)