[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 2



INDIA:

Maharashtra: Kolhapur serial rapist to be hanged, President Pranab Mukherjee 
rejects mercy plea


President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected the mercy petition of a serial rapist, 
convicted for raping 4 minor girls and brutally killing 2 - aged 5 and 10 
years. Kolhapur resident Mohan Anna Chavan had first raped a minor girl in 
1989, for which he received a 2-year jail term and was soon out on bail. Once 
out of jail, he committed his 2nd rape - of a 9-year-old - the same year. This 
time, the court sentenced him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment. In 1999, he 
completed his term and walked out of jail, but as a more heinous criminal.

He soon picked up 2 minor girls - aged 5 and 10 years - raped them, and killed 
them brutally. The court termed it as a "rarest of rare" case deserving death 
penalty. His mercy petition was finally rejected by the President on October 5. 
"Chavan has already exhausted all possible legal remedies and we expect to get 
the date for his execution soon," said a senior officer from the prison 
department. In 2008, the Supreme Court had first rejected his appeal against 
the Bombay High Court judgment upholding the lower court judgment, awarding him 
the death sentence.

"Shockingly, a large number of criminals go unpunished, thereby encouraging 
them ... Justice demands that courts should impose punishment befitting the 
crime so that courts reflect public abhorrence of the crime. The court must not 
only keep in view the rights of the criminal but also the rights of the victim 
of the crime and the society at large while considering the imposition of 
appropriate punishment," the apex court noted.

As per the prosecution, Sangita, 5, and Sheela, 10 (both names changed), were 
living in Gulamb village in Kolhapur and were studying in the Ist and the 4th 
standards, respectively. Chavan was their neighbour and lived there with his 
wife and daughter, who, too, testified in the court as a witnesses against 
Chavan. On December 14, 1999, Chavan had a scuffle with Tanaji Jadhav, cousin 
of Sangita and Sheela. He threatened Jadhav that he will settle the issue by 
the evening itself. Later in the day, Chavan went to a grocery shop with his 
daughter Reshma. The 2 girls were also there at the shop.

Both Reshma and Sheela asked him to buy them chocolates. On the pretext of not 
having change, Chavan sent his daughter Reshma home and asked the two girls to 
accompany him. He then took them to an isolated place and raped them and threw 
Sangita's body into a nearby well. He hid Sheela's body in a bush.

When the 2 girls didn't return home, angry villagers nabbed Chavan since the 
girls were last seen with him. Soon, he was handed over to the police and he 
was convicted on the basis of strong circumstantial evidence.

Circumstantial evidence that nailed Chavan in court.

The deceased were last seen with him. Forensic report confirmed that the 
clothes of Chavan were stained with blood Group A, which is the blood group of 
both the victims Dead bodies of both girls were recovered on his disclosure.

(source: dnaindia.com)

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

India asks for access to 'terror emails'


Australia is reportedly considering cooperating with Indian authorities on a 
terror case that could end with the suspect getting the death sentence.

Attorney General George Brandis last week had talks with India's Union Home 
Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on security cooperation.

Indian media reports say Australia indicated it would consider a request to 
share information about the Yahoo email account of ISIS recruit Areeb Majeed.

The Indian Express reported "a government source" had said Australia was 
considering the request "favourably" but wanted clarification on the issue of 
the death penalty.

Senator Brandis' office said it would not comment on the attorney general's 
private meetings or investigations.

The Express reports Indian authorities have already told Australia they would 
not guarantee Majeed would be spared the death penalty if convicted on the back 
of the email evidence.

The server of the Yahoo account is in Australia, and its communications could 
prove crucial to learning what the Mumbai engineering student did during his 
time in Iraq and Syria.

It's alleged the 23-year-old trained as an ISIS suicide bomber before sneaking 
back into India late last year.

The email account could also be key to learning about ISIS recruiting and 
conspiracy more broadly in India.

The issue comes as federal parliament prepares an inquiry into how Australia 
should advocate for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.

Following Indonesia's executions of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, it was 
argued Australia's diplomatic approaches on the death sentence may be more 
effective if they are more consistent.

In its submission to the inquiry, Reprieve Australia calls for a whole of 
government strategy to underpin domestic policies.

Australia must ensure it doesn't send people back to countries where they might 
face the death penalty, and also that it won't facilitate the application of 
the death penalty by others, it says.

UN Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns, in a report released last week, also 
warned that states must be careful.

When offering financial or technical assistance to executing countries, "any 
such assistance must be offered only after obtaining guarantees that no death 
sentence will be imposed."

The inquiry will hold public hearings on dates yet to be announced.

(source: 9news.com.au)






PAKISTAN----execution

Murder convict executed in Sahiwal


Pakistan on Monday morning executed a man convicted of murder in Sahiwal, Samaa 
reported.

"In 2003, Imtiaz Hussain had murdered a man over a dispute. He was hanged until 
death," sources quoted central jail authorities as saying.

The hangings come as Pakistan's controversial lifting of a moratorium on 
executions last year is under growing scrutiny.

Pakistan ended the 6-year moratorium after Taliban militants massacred more 
than 150 people - mostly children - at a school in Peshawar last December.

Supporters argue that the death penalty is the only effective way to deal with 
the scourge of militancy in the country.

But critics say the legal system is unjust, with rampant police torture, poor 
representation for victims and unfair trials.

(source: samaa.tv)






IRAN----executions

2 Prisoners Hanged in Public Northeastern Iran


2 prisoners, both reportedly 30 years old, were hanged in public in Aliabad-e 
Katul (a city located in the province of Golestan) early morning Sunday 
November 1.

According to a report by Tasnim, an official state-run news outlet, citing 
Esmaeil Mohammadi, the Attorney General of Golestan, the prisoners were 
executed on alleged rape charges.

The hangings were carried out during the Muslim holy month of Muharram, despite 
that Iranian authorities do not typically carry out executions during this 
time.

(source: Iran Human Rights)






LIBYA:

Saadi Gaddafi in court charged with murdering footballer----The former leader's 
son is also under investigation for distributing land mines and weapons, and 
bringing foreign mercenaries to fight during the 2011 uprising


Saadi Gaddafi, the football-mad son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, 
appeared in court on Sunday charged with murdering a Libyan footballer in 2005.

Saadi, 42, who looked pale, spoke only to confirm his name but has pleaded not 
guilty to the charge. His principal lawyer Ahmed Nashad requested more time to 
prepare the defence and acquire further documents relating to the death of 
Bashir Al-Riani, a former footballer and coach with Tripoli's Al-Ittihad 
football club. The hearing was adjourned, after less than an hour, until 6 
December.

The only people who attended the trial, apart from lawyers, journalists and 
prison staff, were 6 family members of Al-Riani, who Saadi is alleged to have 
killed on 23 December 2005.

"It is impossible to describe how we feel today. We have waited such a long 
time for justice," 1 female relative told Middle East Eye. "But we will not be 
satisfied until Saadi is executed for this crime."

Under Libyan law, the death penalty can be given to a defendant if he is found 
guilty of 1st degree murder, said head of investigations for the General 
Attorney's Office, Sadiq Al-Sour. He added, however, that if a close family 
member of the victim forgave the accused, the sentence could be reduced to life 
imprisonment. But Al-Riani's family was adamant that there would be no 
forgiveness, insisting that the only justice for them would be for Saadi to 
face execution.

"It was not an accident, it was murder and we are sure he is guilty," the 
female relative said. "And even if he didn't actually kill Bashir, Saadi is 
responsible because, back then, he was in charge of everything and did nothing 
to stop other ill-treatment." She claimed that, before his death, Al-Riani had 
received numerous threats, and had been beaten, and chased by dogs on several 
occasions.

Although they were happy to talk to the press, Al-Riani's relatives did not 
wish to give their names.

In an interview with Human Rights Watch (HRW) in September, Saadi said he was 
accused of killing his friend. "There was no such thing as friendship with the 
old regime. They owned us," Al-Riani's female relative said.

1 of Al-Riani's cousins explained that the football coach had failed to come 
home on the night of 23 December and the family had no idea he was dead until 3 
days later, when a local hospital telephoned to say his body had been found 
dumped in a street.

"The body was in terrible shape, with a deep wound in his side," he said. 
"Bashir's face was unrecognisable - swollen and all different colours, although 
we don't know for certain if this was because of beating or because he had been 
dead for 3 days."

The family said they had pressed for an investigation at the time but, although 
a case was opened, it never led anywhere. "There was no justice under the old 
regime. The investigators just asked us lots of questions but didn't seem to be 
actually working on the case," the cousin said.

Al-Riani's case was reopened after Saadi was extradited to Libya from Niger, 
where he had lived under house arrest since fleeing there during the 2011 
Libyan uprising.

Since his extradition, Saadi has been held in solitary confinement in a 
windowless room, according to HRW. In a private interview with the organisation 
- the 1st since his extradition - he claimed that he had been intimidated and 
threatened under questioning. This claim appears to be supported by leaked 
video footage clearly showing Saadi being blindfolded and beaten on the soles 
of his feet during interrogation.

Although admitting he had been "terrorised", Saadi declined to discuss any 
details with HRW.

The head of Hadba Prison, Khaled Al-Sharif, said that the prison's previous 
director had been suspended because of these torture allegations.

Saadi also told HRW that he had not been allowed to meet with layers in private 
and claimed defence witnesses had been intimidated and were afraid of 
reprisals. There is no witness protection programme in Libya.

Nashad, the lawyer leading Saadi's defence team of 4, confirmed that guards had 
been present at all meetings with his client but said that this had not 
interfered with his ability to do his job.

Saadi is also being investigated for involvement in other crimes, Al-Sour said. 
These include distributing land mines and weapons, and bringing foreign 
mercenaries to fight during the 2011 uprising. Saadi is expected to stand trial 
separately for these crimes once the investigations have been completed.

On Sunday, Saadi appeared at Tripoli Appeals Court, a purpose built courtroom 
in the grounds of Hadba Prison, where inmates include many senior officials 
from the old regime. In July, the same court sentenced nine men to death, 
including Saadi's brother Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi (sentenced in absentia) and 
Muammar Gaddafi's former spy chief Abdullah Senussi, in a trial that was 
criticised by Amnesty International, HRW and the UN for failing to meet 
international fair trial standards.

Senussi and his seven co-defendants have lodged appeals against their sentences 
at the Tripoli Supreme Court.

(source: middleeasteye.net)


NAURU:

UN members to question Nauru on rights concerns


A review of Nauru's human rights record this week will give United Nations 
members a chance to express concerns about issues like press freedom and the 
treatment of refugees.

Nauru is one of 14 countries being examined as part of the UN Universial 
Periodic Review process in Geneva.

International rights groups have recently condemned Nauru for what they see as 
restrictions on media and the poor treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in 
the Australian-run detention centre there.

The acting head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Pacific, Catherine 
Phuong, says the review will give members a chance to discuss those issues.

"It is an opportunity for other states to ask questions and to make 
recommendations and I think this process is important in terms of raising those 
issues and having an open discussion about them."

Catherine Phuong says there is still a need for Nauru to develop legislation on 
domestic violence, gender equality, child protection and to abolish the death 
penalty.

(source: Radio New Zealand)






INDONESIA:

Jakarta "Toilet Bomber" Demanded 100 Bitcoins, Inspired by ISIS----The bomber 
of a mall on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, attempted to extort 100 
bitcoins from the mall and was inspired by ISIS.


The bomber of a mall on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, attempted to 
extort 100 bitcoins from the mall and was inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq 
and Syria (ISIS), say police.

According to local media reports, Leopard Wisnu Kumala was allegedly 
responsible for the bombing last week that injured one person in the Alam 
Sutera Mall in Tangerang. He allegedly planted the bomb in a toilet, which 
exploded at around noon on Wednesday.

CCTV footage showed him carrying a bag into a washroom at the mall and exiting 
shortly before the blast.

It was allegedly the 4th bomb he planted at the mall since July. His 1st 
attempt resulted in an explosion and the other two did not. Police commented 
that there were similarities between the latest and previous attempts.

After he planted last week's bomb, he contacted the mall and demanded 100 
bitcoins, at the time worth approximately 400 million rupiah, or $30,000 
(USD/IDR = 13,600). Interestingly, the mall's management responded by sending 
him approximately 1/400 of this amount, or 0.25 BTC.

Bitcoin is the go-to currency for extortionists looking to avoid apprehension 
or seizure of their winnings, due to its decentralization from financial 
authority and perceived anonymity.

The 29-year old assailant reportedly worked in the IT department at a company 
near the mall. He was arrested at his home a few hours after the explosion.

His motives were reportedly both economic and ideological. He was reportedly 20 
million rupiah in debt for his home, motorcycle and credit cards, and his wife 
had asked him to buy a car.

He also reportedly admitted to police that he was inspired by ISIS following 
recent media reports of the conflict in Syria, as well as by another 
Jakarta-area mall bombing in February. Police believe that the attempted 
bombings are connected with ISIS, not with the homegrown al-Qaeda-affiliated 
Jemaah Islamiyah.

Police blamed the February incident on Indonesians returning from fighting 
alongside ISIS. The incident employed the use of a low-powered chlorine bomb, 
the variety often used by ISIS militants.

The Jakarta police chief, Tito Karnavian, said in a statement that the attacker 
sowed fear amongst the public. As such, he will be charged in accordance with a 
2003 anti-terrorism law, which carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty.

(source: financemagnates.com)






BANGLADESH:

Bangladesh govt to 'give strong reply' to Amnesty International remarks on war 
crimes trial


The government is preparing to issue a 'strong reply' to Amnesty International 
after it questioned the war crimes trial and made controversial remarks on the 
role of freedom fighters.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said in a news call on Sunday the 
government would do everything to protest against the statement.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam dubbed the statement 
'unacceptable'.

"It (attempted to humiliate) independence and freedom fighters," he said.

"The government is preparing to give a firm reply by studying the Amnesty 
report in detail," he added.

The human-rights organisation has been questioning the process of the war 
crimes trial from the beginning.

The London-based group in a report published on Oct 27 questioned the trial and 
appeal processes of war criminals Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan 
Mohammad Mujahid.

The Supreme Court will hear their death penalty review petitions on Monday.

"Serious flaws" occurred in their trial and appeal processes, the rights group 
said.

The politicians face possible hanging for atrocities committed during the 1971 
War of Independence from Pakistan.

"Serious crimes were also committed by the pro-independence forces, but no one 
has been investigated or brought to justice for them," the Amnesty 
International also remarked.

Ganajagaran Mancha, which demands highest punishment of war criminals, demanded 
apology from Amnesty International for the remarks.

It urged the government to lodge a protest with the organisation.

(source: bdnews24.com)