[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

May 27



BANGLADESH:

Death-row prisoner dies in Kashimpur jail



A death-row prisoner has died at Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur. The deceased is 
Nurul Islam houlader, 65, son of Ashraf Ali Houlader, of Jhalakati.

Zannatul Farhad, Jailer of Dhaka Central Jail Part 2 in Kashimpur, said Nurul 
was taken to the jail hospital as he felt chest pain around 8:45pm Tuesday. 
Later, he was shifted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, where 
doctors declared him dead.

Alamgir was sentenced death penalty in a case filed under Women and Children 
Repression Prevention (Special) Act 2000 in 2003.

(source: Dhaka tribune)








EGYPT:

Death sentences test fragile Hamas-Egypt ties



Egypt-Hamas ties took a dramatic turn May 16 as the Cairo Criminal Court 
referred the death sentence against ousted President Mohammed Morsi, along with 
105 others, including the Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie, to 
Egypt's Grand Mufti.

Hamas was provoked by the Egyptian ruling that targeted some Hamas members, 
including a prisoner and several who are now dead, namely Raed al-Atar, who was 
killed in the Gaza war last August; Hossam al-Sanea, who was killed in 2008; 
Tayseer Abu Snaimeh, who was killed during an Israeli raid on Rafah in 2011; 
and Hassan Salameh, who has been detained in Israeli prisons since 1996 and is 
sentenced to 48 years in prison.

On May 17, Hamas described the Egyptian ruling as a massacre against its 
members, adding that the ruling disregards human values, is unfair, was taken 
in the absence of evidences, is based on falsified facts, and provides a cover 
for Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

"The Egyptian ruling against a number of Hamas members is deplorable; it has 
tainted the record of the Egyptian judiciary, and confirms that it is a 
politicized case," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said May 16.

Hamas never thought that its military commanders would be sentenced to death by 
the Egyptian court; it always thought it would be by an Israeli one. This is 
because none of the movement's members were proved to be involved in armed 
operations on the Egyptian territory. This decision may break the thin thread 
between Hamas and Cairo.

Hamas considers that by issuing death sentences against its members and some 
Muslim Brotherhood leaders, Egypt is still convinced that Hamas is linked to 
the main Muslim Brotherhood branch. The death sentences also prove that 
security authorities in Cairo did not believe all of Hamas' announcements of 
non-interference in internal Egyptian affairs.

The Egyptian crackdown on Hamas was not limited to the shocking death 
sentences, and reached the point of published reports quoting security sources. 
On May 18, Youm7 news website, known for close ties to the Egyptian regime, 
said Hamas is using advanced techniques to falsify ID cards to create false 
Egyptian official stamps to facilitate the entry of its members into Sinai. The 
fake Egyptian ID cards help these Palestinians go through Egyptian airports and 
avoid ambushes set up inside Egypt, without raising suspicion of being 
non-Egyptian.

On May 19, El-Watan newspaper also said that scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi, one of 
the Muslim Brotherhood spiritual guides who's among those sentenced to death, 
gave Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal $2 million for hosting Sinai gunmen in Gaza.

On May 20, Hamas categorically denied these accusations, describing them as 
false information that are part of the oppressive campaign against Hamas. 
According to the movement, this campaign spreads false stories and insists on 
falsely involving Hamas in the internal Egyptian file.

The Egyptian accusations leveled against Hamas have prompted Ismail al-Ashqar, 
Hamas leader and chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council's Security 
Committee, to tell Al-Monitor, "The Egyptian judiciary ruling came as a result 
of false documents and erroneous information that parties in Fatah provided the 
Egyptian regime with, in order to tarnish the image of Hamas and involve 
Palestinians in Egypt's internal conflict."

On May 17, Fatah Revolutionary Council Secretary-General Amin Makboul refused 
to make any comments on the Egyptian ruling for being an internal affair of 
Egypt, and the Palestinian factions - including the Popular Front for the 
Liberation of Palestine, the Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Resistance 
Committees - issued separate statements rejecting the Egyptian decisions.

A former Egyptian parliament member, who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of 
anonymity, confirmed that "this harsh ruling against the Hamas and Brotherhood 
members were expected, as the Egyptian intelligence services have been 
receiving local, regional and international reports on alleged activities of 
Hamas in the Egyptian territory. These [activities] however were never proven 
by the Egyptian security services investigations with many detainees. The 
Egyptian regime feels that it is facing a worsening internal crisis, and sought 
to get rid of its internal problems by issuing these rulings."

The Egyptian rulings raised concerns within Hamas of a possible confrontation 
with Cairo; yet Hamas has preserved a thin thread that might restore ties with 
Egypt or at least stop them from worsening, through regional mediation that 
Hamas is relying on, such as Saudi Arabia, which did not announce a specific 
position in this regard.

On May 17, Hamas implored the Arab and Islamic Ummah to interfere to halt the 
unfair death sentences.

On May 16, Hamas members retweeted Jamal Khashoggi, general manager of Al Arab 
News Channel and a close associate of the royal court in Saudi Arabia; the 
latter had said that the absurd death sentences are painful to everyone who 
likes Egypt, but remaining silent is more painful.

Ziad Zaza, a member of Hamas' political bureau, confirmed to Al-Monitor that 
the Egyptian judicial rulings "will not affect the Hamas-Cairo ties, and any 
tension between the 2 parties will be temporary. This is because Egypt will 
remain a supporter for the Palestinian cause" while calling on Egypt to review 
the wrongful invalid rulings.

It seems that Hamas has no concerns regarding the execution of its members in 
Egypt, because none of them are actually present on Egyptian territory, or 
detained by Egyptian security forces in Cairo. Yet, Hamas is more concerned 
that these rulings might widen the gap with Egypt and increase the suffering of 
Palestinians in Gaza in light of the ongoing closure of the Rafah crossing.

Since early this year, the Rafah crossing was closed for more than 100 days, 
and over 60,000 humanitarian cases in the Gaza Strip are in desperate need of 
travel, whether for medical treatment, education or work.

Former Hamas government Information Minister Yousef Rizqa told Al-Monitor, 
"Despite the court ruling, Hamas is ready to meet and dialogue with the 
Egyptian leadership, as it is part of Hamas' strategy, and that it does not 
mind holding meetings and discussions, but Cairo is not ready for such [a] 
meeting."

Al-Monitor learned from Hamas leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity that 
the movement is convinced that the Egyptian rulings will not be enforced on the 
Brotherhood leaders and Morsi, and that they are part of the increased pressure 
on the Brotherhood. They hope that ties between Hamas and Egypt will be 
restored. Hamas is well aware that the only way to the outside world is through 
Egypt.

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

Egypt sentences 8 jihadists to death



An Egyptian court Tuesday sentenced to death 8 jihadists found guilty of acts 
of violence against the security forces and belonging to groups that incite 
"terrorism", a judicial official said.

"The criminal court in Zagazig condemned eight jihadists to hang after they 
were found guilty of belonging to takfiri (Sunni extremist) groups," the 
official said.

The city of Zagazig is in the Nile Delta north of the capital.

They were also sentenced for "incitement to terrorism and violence and ... 
incitement to kill members of the army and police," he said.

5 of the 8 condemned men were sentenced in absentia.

Jihadists in Egypt, primarily in the Sinai Peninsula, have staged regular 
attacks on the security forces since the then army chief and now President 
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi after a single 
year in power.

Hundreds of Morsi supporters have been killed and thousands jailed in a 
crackdown. Dozens more, including Morsi himself, have been sentenced to death 
after mass trials.

(source for both: al-monitor.com)



MALAYSIA:

CPO: Triad operated drug lab



The Pneh triad is believed to be behind the drug-processing lab busted in 
Lorong Padang Tembak on Monday.

Police have identified the three men caught in the raid as members of the 
triad. Pneh means 'flat' in Hokkien.

Penang police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the 3 
suspects, aged 25 to 47, were busy processing drugs when police stormed the 
premises.

"2 of them have no prior records while one has a previous drug-related offence. 
All three tested positive for morphine," he said.

The drugs, with an estimated street value of RM1.1mil, include 34kg of heroin, 
2,738 ecstasy pills, 10.4kg of caffeine, various chemicals and drug processing 
equipment.

"The syndicate has been operating for 5 months and the drugs were meant for 
distribution in the northern region," he said at the police contingent 
headquarters in Penang Road yesterday.

Police also impounded a Toyota Altis and a Proton Wira, and found RM1,382.

The raid on a semi-detached house in Lorong Padang Tembak at 5.20pm on Monday 
was carried out by a team from the Penang Narcotics Department.

The case will be investigated under Section 39B(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 
1952, which carries the death penalty upon conviction. All 3 suspects are under 
remand until May 31.

When asked about the 470.1kg ganja bust in Teluk Bahang on Monday, he said 
police were still hunting for 2 locals believed to be part of a syndicate.

"The drugs were brought in from a neighbouring country," he said.

On Ops Warta, he said 234 traffic offenders had been arrested here in the 
ongoing nationwide operation. "9 of them were women," he added.

He advised the public to immediately settle their summonses instead of waiting 
to be arrested.

(source: The Star)








PAKISTAN----executions

Pakistan executes 7 death-row convicts



7 death row convicts were executed in jails across Pakistan's Punjab and 
Balochistan provinces on Wednesday, a media report said.

In Lahore Central Jail, 2 convicts were hanged.

Abdul Khaliq had been convicted of murdering a woman, while convict Shahzad was 
also found guilty of committing a murder, Geo News reported.

2 convicts were hanged in Gujrat District Jail.

Naseer Ahmed was found guilty of killing a man in 2002. Faisal Mehmood was 
sentenced to death for committing a murder in 1999.

In Vehari District Jail, 2 prisoners were executed.

Abdul Sattar was found guilty of raping and killing a 13-year-old girl in 1997. 
Convict Sanaullah had also raped and killed a 11-year-old girl in 2001.

Khan Mohammad was hanged in Balochistan's Mach Jail after he was found guilty 
of killing his brother and his nephew in 2004.

Pakistan lifted its moratorium on the death penalty in all capital cases on 
March 10.

Initially, executions were resumed for terrorism offences only in the wake of a 
Taliban massacre at an army-run school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, which 
had killed more than 140 people, mostly students.

(source: manoramaonline.com)

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

2 sent to the gallows in Faisalabad



2 prisoners on death row were hanged at the Faisalabad Central Jail on Tuesday.

The jail superintendent told The Express Tribune that Iftikhar Ahmad alias 
Pasi, resident of Gujjar Basti, and Asif Zaib, a resident of Chak 111, 
Sargodha, were executed.

The superintendent said Ahmad was convicted of the murder of his rivals 
Chaudhry Allah Rakha, Ramazan and Muhammad Ashraf, whom he had shot dead in the 
Gulberg police precincts on July 15, 2001.

Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Akram had sentenced Ahmad to death 
on 6 counts. The apex courts had upheld the decision and the president had also 
turned down his plea for mercy.

ATC Judge Raja Pervaiz Akhtar had issued black warrants for Ahmad and fixed May 
26 as the date of execution.

Jail officials said Ahmad's family had visited him in prison before he was 
executed. Ahmad had tearfully apologised to his family, said he had repented of 
his offence and kept asking his family to save him from the gallows, they said.

On Tuesday, Ahmad's body was handed over to his family for burial.

Zaib was sentenced to death by then Sargodha Additional Sessions Judge Chaudhry 
Muhammad Asif on March 27, 1996, for killing his rival Ejaz Ahmad in a scuffle 
in the Sillanwali police precincts. Zaib had exhausted all avenues of appeal.

The Sargodha district and sessions judge issued black warrants against Zaib and 
fixed May 26 for execution.

The jail superintendent said they had handed over Zaib's body to his family 
after the execution.

Security was tightened in and around Faisalabad Central Jail on Tuesday to 
avoid an untoward incident.

(source: Express Tribune)



INDIA:

Explained: A Question of Life and Death



The Supreme Court will hear today petitions challenging the validity of death 
warrants issued against Amroha couple Shabnam and Salim. The warrants were 
issued after the SC confirmed the death penalty for the lovers convicted of 
killing seven relatives of the woman in 2008. UTKARSH ANAND examines the laws, 
rules and issues around the death penalty, and the circumstances warranting 
execution in India.

Which crimes entail capital punishment in India?

Grave offences such as murder, rape with injuries that may result in the death 
of a victim and a repeat offender, waging war against the State, and 
terrorism-related offences causing death are some major crimes punishable with 
death under the Indian Penal Code. Similarly, there are provisions under The 
Arms Act, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, The Scheduled 
Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, The Commission of 
Sati (Prevention) Act, The Air Force Act, The Army Act and The Navy Act wherein 
capital punishment is prescribed as one of the punishments for serious 
offences. The now-repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and Terrorist and 
Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) also contained provisions for 
death sentence.

What has the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutional validity of the death 
sentence?

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution ensures the Fundamental Right to life and 
liberty for all persons. It adds no person shall be deprived of his life or 
personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. This has 
been legally construed to mean if there is a procedure, which is fair and 
valid, then the state by framing a law can deprive a person of his life.

While the central government has consistently maintained it would keep the 
death penalty in the statute books to act as a deterrent, and for those who are 
a threat to society, the Supreme Court too has upheld the constitutional 
validity of capital punishment in "rarest of rare" cases.

In Jagmohan Singh vs State of UP (1973), then in Rajendra Prasad vs State of UP 
(1979), and finally in Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab (1980), the Supreme 
Court affirmed the constitutional validity of the death penalty. It said that 
if capital punishment is provided in the law and the procedure is a fair, just 
and reasonable one, the death sentence can be awarded to a convict. This will, 
however, only be in the "rarest of rare" cases, and the courts should render 
"special reasons" while sending a person to the gallows.

What would constitute a "rarest of rare" case?

The principles as to what would constitute the "rarest of rare" has been laid 
down by the top court in the landmark judgment in Bachan Singh vs State of 
Punjab (1980). Bachan Singh formulated certain broad illustrative guidelines 
and said it should be given only when the option of awarding the sentence of 
life imprisonment is "unquestionably foreclosed". It was left completely left 
upon the court's discretion to reach this conclusion.

However, the apex court also laid down the principle of weighing aggravating 
and mitigating circumstances. A balance-sheet of aggravating and mitigating 
circumstances in a particular case has to be drawn to ascertain whether justice 
will not be done if any punishment less than the death sentence is awarded. 2 
prime questions, the top court held, may be asked and answered. First, is there 
something uncommon about the crime which renders the sentence of imprisonment 
for life inadequate and calls for a death sentence? Second, are there 
circumstances of the crime such that there is no alternative but to impose the 
death sentence even after according maximum weightage to the mitigating 
circumstances which speak in favour of the offenders?

What has been the Supreme Court's view on mandatory death penalty?

The Supreme Court has always said that the death sentence should be given 
rarely. In Mithu vs State of Punjab (1983), the Supreme Court ruled that the 
mandatory death penalty is unconstitutional. It struck down Section 303 in the 
IPC, which entailed a mandatory death sentence for a person who commits murder 
while serving a life term in another case. The Supreme Court ruled Section 303 
violated Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life) since an 
unreasonable distinction was sought to be made between 2 classes of murderes. 
It said all murders would come under the ambit of Section 302, where a court 
would have the discretion to award life term or death sentence.

Similarly, the Supreme Court ruled in State of Punjab vs Dalbir Singh in 2012 
that mandatory death penalty as punishment for crimes under Section 27(3) of 
the Arms Act, 1959, was unconstitutional. The government moved a Bill to amend 
the Act, which is currently pending.

There are some other subsequent legislation prescribing the mandatory death 
penalty in drug cases, but the Supreme Court has not yet struck down the 
penalty as unconstitutional. A pertinent provision in the Narcotic Drugs and 
Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, is currently under scrutiny of the apex 
court.

What are the avenues available to a death-row convict?

After a trial court awards the death penalty, the sentence requires to be 
confirmed by a High Court. The sentence shall not be executed till the time the 
High Court confirms it, either after deciding the appeal filed by the convict, 
or until the period allowed for preferring an appeal has expired. If the High 
Court confirms the death penalty and it is also upheld by the Supreme Court, a 
convict can file a review petition and a curative petition, if the review 
petition is nixed, for reconsideration of the judgment.

A Constitution Bench ruled last year that a review petition by a death-row 
convict will be heard by a 3-judge bench in open court. Such cases were earlier 
being heard by 2-judge benches in the judges' chamber. A curative petition is 
still heard in judges' chambers.

Opening another avenue, the Supreme Court, by yet another path-breaking verdict 
in 2014, ruled that unexplained delay in execution was a ground for commutation 
of death penalty, and an inmate, his or her kin, or even a public-spirited 
citizen could file a writ petition seeking such commutation.

Does the executive have a role in clemency?

Yes. If the Supreme Court turns down the appeal against capital punishment, a 
condemned prison can submit a mercy petition to the President of India and the 
Governor of the State. Under Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution, the 
President and Governors have the power "to grant pardons, reprieves, respites 
or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any 
person convicted of any offence". This power was without any conditions until 
the last year's verdict by the Supreme Court, which held that judicial clemency 
could be granted on the ground of inordinate delay even after a mercy petition 
is rejected.

How is the execution of death sentence carried out in India?

Execution is carried out by 2 modes, namely hanging by the neck till death, and 
being executed by firing squad. The Code of Criminal Procedure calls for the 
method of execution to be hanging. It states: "When any person is sentenced to 
death, the sentence shall direct that the person be hanged by the neck till the 
person is dead." In Deena vs Union of India (1993), the Supreme Court 
adjudicated upon whether the execution of death penalty by hanging by rope is 
constitutional. It held the method prescribed under the CrPC was valid.

Death by shooting is contemplated under the Army Act, Navy Act and Air Force 
Act. They provide for the discretion of the Court Martial to either provide for 
the execution of the death sentence by hanging or by being shot to death.

Can an order of execution be challenged in a court of law?

Yes. The procedure for carrying out the execution must also fulfill certain 
conditions as stipulated by the Supreme Court in Shatrughan Chauhan vs Union of 
India (2014), and by the Allahabad High Court in Peoples Union for Democratic 
Rights vs Union of India (2015). The guidelines hold that a death-row prisoner 
must get free legal aid for drafting a mercy petition and, if it is rejected, 
an intimation to the prisoner and his family is imperative. A minimum 14 days' 
notice for execution must be given to let him "prepare himself mentally for 
execution, to make his peace with god, prepare his will and settle other 
earthly affairs", besides also allowing him "to have a last and final meeting 
with his family members." An execution can be stopped owing to a convict's 
physical or mental ill health, the top court has held. The death warrants are 
issued by the trial court.

In the cases of Shabnam and Salim, the validity of the death warrants have been 
challenged, contending that the warrants did not specify any date of execution. 
Further, the convicts still had the legal remedies of filing review and 
curative petitions, apart from moving clemency petitions.

When was the last execution carried out in India?

The last execution to take place in India was in February 2013, the hanging of 
Afzal Guru who was convicted of plotting the 2001 attack on India's Parliament. 
26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was hanged in November 2012. Prior to these, the 
last execution was in 2004, when Dhananjoy Chatterjee was executed for the 
murder and rape of a 14-year old girl. This was the country's 1st execution 
since 1995, when Auto Shankar, who was convicted of 6 murders in Tamil Nadu, 
was executed. Therefore, while the courts sentenced more than 1,400 persons to 
death between 2001 to 2011, only 4 have been hanged since 1995. Many of these 
cases are under the consideration of the Supreme Court and the President for 
clemency.

According to data compiled by the NGO Amnesty International, Indian courts 
handed down at least 64 death sentences in 2014, but no executions took place. 
A report by the Death Penalty Research Project of the National Law University 
in Delhi indicated that at least 270 people were on death row after exhausting 
all remedies available to them under the law.

(source: Punjab Star News)



PHILIPPINES:

1,288 Pinoys face drug-related charges, 41 on death row



A total of 1,288 Filipinos face drug-related offenses overseas, 41 of whom are 
meted with death penalty, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

During the joint hearing of House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and Oversight 
Committee on Dangerous Drugs on Mary Jane Veloso's case yesterday, Atty. 
Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant 
Workers Affairs (OUMWA) said those who are on death row for drug-related 
charges ware in Malaysia, China, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

"We have 1,288 Filipinos facing drug-related offenses.We have 41 Filipinos 
meted with death penalty. They were incarcerated in Malaysia, China, Saudi 
Arabia, and Indonesia," he told lawmakers.

Of the 41 Filipinos on death row, including Veloso, 18 are imprisoned in 
Malaysia, 21 in China,and 1 in Saudi Arabia.

Fernandez noted that the Chinese government granted a 2-year reprieve to 21 
Filipinos convicted to death. Their sentences can be commuted for good 
behavior, he said, adding that the remaining 1,247 Filipino convicts are 
serving their jail sentences.

He assured that those distressed Filipinos were given necessary legal 
assistance to ensure that their rights are protected.

(source: Manila Bulletin)

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

De Lima: PH won't pressure Indonesia on clemency for Veloso



Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Wednesday that the Philippine 
government would tread lightly in seeking clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, as the 
country would not wish to put pressure on Indonesia in the politically charged 
drug trafficking case.

Addressing the dangerous drugs committee of the House of Representatives, De 
Lima said the focus of an ongoing preliminary investigation was to determine 
whether Veloso, who was granted a last-minute stay on her execution last April 
on drug charges, was a "hapless victim or a willing participant."

"On the premise that the investigation will prove she was a hapless victim, 
[then we may ask for] possible executive clemency, which may mean either pardon 
or the commutation of sentence. But we don't want to be harping on this," she 
said.

"We would not want the Indonesian government to be pressured by our 
government," De Lima said in answer to a question on what concrete steps the 
government was taking to save Veloso from the death penalty.

The 30-year-old Veloso was supposed to have been executed by firing squad on 
April 29, until last-minute appeals by President Aquino and the surrender of 
her alleged recruiter, Maria Cristina Sergio, prompted Indonesia to give her a 
temporary reprieve.

De Lima said the national prosecution service, under the Mutual Legal 
Assistance Treaty of Asean countries, had made a request to Indonesia and 
Malaysia with respect to proving Veloso's claims of innocence but she added she 
could not disclose the details of the request.

Veloso, who had been caught trying to bring in a suitcase that was found to 
contain heroin from Malaysia to Indonesia, had said the luggage had not been 
hers and she had been duped by her recruiter and a syndicate of 
"African-looking" men.

De Lima said the DOJ was trying to confirm Veloso's allegations. A case of 
illegal recruitment, human trafficking and swindling has been filed against her 
recruiter, Sergio, Sergio's partner, Julius Lacanilao, and a certain "Ike."

She also said she was keeping Indonesia's Attorney General abreast of the 
developments on Veloso's case.

"We need to help each other so we can find solutions to drug trafficking," De 
Lima said.

"Based on many indications, we're looking at the West African Drug Syndicate 
(WADS), those African-looking men, are most probably members of the WADs," she 
said.

"We don't want to push executive clemency, because in the final analysis, it's 
going to be the call of the Indonesian authorities. We will let the Indonesian 
lawyers to make their next move," De Lima said.

Francisco Noel Fernandez, the special assistant to the Department of Foreign 
Affairs' Office of the Undersecretary for Overseas Workers Affairs said a total 
of 41 Filipinos have been meted the death penalty worldwide, out of 1,288 who 
have been serving sentences.

"They are all incarcerated in 4 countries, 18 in Malaysia, 21 in China, 1 in 
Saudi Arabia, and Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia," he said.

Also at the hearing, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Veloso's 
husband Michael Candelaria and their 2 sons would be placed under the custody 
of Witness Protection Program in response to threats against their lives.

(source: globalnation.inquirer.net)








INDONESIA:

Indonesia Sets Date For Final Death Row Appeal Of Frenchman Serge Atlaoui



An Indonesian court said it would hear a last-ditch appeal by a French man on 
death row on 3 June, after a verdict expected this week was delayed by the 
absence of the presiding judge.

Serge Atlaoui had been due to face the firing squad with other prisoners in 
April but won a last-minute reprieve for the completion of his legal appeals.

France's president, Francois Hollande, has warned Indonesia it would face 
"consequences" if it were to press ahead with his execution.

Indonesia has harsh penalties for drug trafficking and resumed executions in 
2013 after a 5-year lull.

The president, Joko Widodo, has rejected clemency pleas from foreign nationals 
who are among a group of about 60 drug convicts scheduled for execution.

14 have been executed this year, including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran 
Sukumaran; Nigerians Raheem Salami, Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Okwudili 
Oyatanze and Martin Anderson; Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte and Indonesian Zainal 
Abidin, who were all shot dead in April.

Mary Jane Veloso, from the Philippines, was given a last-minute reprieve from 
execution, but remains on death row.

Widodo has declared the death penalty "positive" for his country, adding: "My 
duty as president of Indonesia is to carry out the law and I'm sure other 
countries will understand this.

"Every day 50 young Indonesians die [drug-related deaths]; in 1 year that is 
18,000 dead. I hope they understand about that."

The Jakarta administrative court is reviewing Atlaoui's challenge against the 
president's refusal of clemency.

"As our presiding judge is in training, the court hearing could not take place 
and we postponed to next week," Judge Indaryadi said in a court session on 
Tuesday.

The hearing has been rescheduled for 3 June and a verdict is expected soon 
after.

The attorney general's office has said Atlaoui's current legal challenge would 
be his last appeal.

Atlaoui was sentenced to death for his involvement in an ecstasy factory in 
Jakarta that was capable of producing 100kg (220lb) of the illegal pills every 
week. He has always protested his innocence, saying he believed he was carrying 
out work installing industrial machines in an empty factory building.

If Atlaoui were to be shot by Indonesian firing squad, he would be the 1st 
French person to be executed in 38 years.

(source: Malaysian Digest)