[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 18



INDONESIA:

Malaysian gets death sentence for trafficking


The panel of judges at the Pekanbaru District Court on Tuesday handed down a 
death sentence to Ng Hai Kuan, known as Jimmy, 55, for trafficking 46.5 
kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth Rp 180 billion (US$12.50 million).

Presided Judge Amin Ismanto decided that Jimmy was guilty of owning the crystal 
methamphetamine, which was stored in 93 packages that were seized by the Riau 
Police at Hotel Parma in Pekanbaru, on April 2.

"The first class narcotics were obtained from a man identified only with the 
initials ABE, a Malacca resident in Malaysia. The drugs were to be sent to 
ABE's friend in Palembang, South Sumatra," Amin said.

A number of witnesses had testified in previous hearings that the narcotics 
were taken in 2 travel bags that were smuggled through a small port in Dumai 
city, transported in a speedboat. The key to the 2 travel bags had been sent by 
ABE to the buyer in Palembang.

Amin said that Jimmy had violated articles 113 and 132 of Law No. 35/2009 on 
narcotics.

Previously, Jimmy has twice been arrested for being involvement in narcotics. 
In 2004, he was arrested by the Malaysian police for owning ecstasy pills. He 
was freed after paying bail. He was arrested again in 2008 on similar charges.

The panel of judges deemed that Jimmy had committed serious crimes that could 
spark social unrest and could destroy the young generation. "The defendant was 
aware that what they were doing violated Indonesian laws. Therefore, the panel 
of judges do not see any factors that could commute the sentence," Amin said.

After consulting with his lawyers, Jimmy said that he would appeal to a higher 
court to have the death sentence downgraded. Syahrir, Jimmy's lawyer, said that 
the panel of judges had wrongly invoked articles 113 and 132 of the Narcotics 
Law because Jimmy was not actually an owner of the narcotics; only a carrier. 
"He is not an importer. It was not him who brought the narcotics from 
Malaysia," he added.

(source: Jakarta Post)






CANADA:

Death penalty a worthy debate


Should Derek Saretzky, if found guilty, receive the death penalty?

This question has sprouted in conversations across the country this week. It's 
a serious debate worthy of consideration.

Saretzky, if you recall, has been charged with 2 counts of 1st-degree murder 
and 1 count of indignity to a body in relation to the death of 2-year-old 
Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and her father Terry Blanchette from earlier this week 
is Blairmore, Alta., a story that has gripped the nation this past week.

Emotions are raw and at a peak right now at the mention of this heartbreaking 
tragedy. It's a story that rocks any compassionate person to his or her core, 
regardless whether they're a parent or not. Causing harm to children, let alone 
murder, is one of the few crimes that is unforgivable.

But is it a crime that requires capital punishment? It's a yes or no answer 
with no room for a grey area. This is death we're talking about. In Canada, the 
last time anyone was put to death was in 1962. There was a moratorium placed on 
the death penalty in 1967, and nine years later it was abolished.

The problem with criminals - and there are plenty - is the fact they don't fear 
the laughable justice system and they certainly don't shake in their boots at 
the thought of serving jail time. And why should they? Teenagers and young 
adolescents are protected by the Young Offenders Act and will continue to 
receive slaps on the wrist until changes are made. They know it and we know it.

When it comes to jails and federal penitentiaries, the atmosphere resembles 
more of a high school reunion than anything. In addition, three square meals a 
day, complete with fruits and vegetables, leisure time in the courtyard with a 
good book or a basketball, a clean bed with pillow and mattress is hardly 
referred to as doing hard time. And then there's the television and Internet 
privileges. It's a better life than what a lot of non-criminals endure.

Not quite a shangri-la paradise and 5-star resort, but our jails are not as 
feared and horrific as they should be in order to deter people from committing 
serious crimes. Does anyone remember Alcatraz?

A life sentence doesn't necessarily equate to life in prison. If the crime 
committed was severe enough to warrant a life sentence, then why not lock up 
the guilty party for life? And therein lies the question of capital punishment.

One the one hand, we in Saskatchewan are well aware of the David Milgaard case 
from 1970. Milgaard was wrongfully convicted of rape and murder of a Saskatoon 
nursing assistant and served 23 years in prison. He likely would have been put 
to death had the death penalty been in place. Milgaard was eventually 
exonerated.

More cases similar to Milgaard's are out there. And once you take a life, you 
can't being it back.

To counter that, we know our jails and prisons are over-crowded. Criminals are 
a burden on valuable tax dollars. Granted, they do have human rights. But 
should those rights be waived once convicted? Some would argue that bread, 
water and a used blanket is plenty for any convict. It's more than what some 
homeless people can enjoy on a daily basis.

So, should Canada rethink capital punishment? You be the judge.

(source: Editorial, Moose Jaw Times Herald)






IRAN----execution

Public Execution of One Prisoner in Isfahan


Saeed Zargari; a prisoner charged with theft, kidnapping and murder; was 
reportedly hanged to death in public in Ardestan (a city in the province of 
Isfahan).

According to Iran state media Seda o Sima, quoting Ardestan's Justice 
Department, Zargari was executed in public on the morning of Wednesday 
September 16. Zargari is reportedly accused of murdering Seyed Parsa Hashemi, a 
7-year-old child.

According to the Prosecutor of Ardestand, Saeed Zargari was arrested in 2013 as 
a result of a financial dispute with Parsa Hashemi's father. The Prosecutor 
says that prior to the arrest, Zargari had kidnapped Parsa Hashemi and hid him 
in the trunk of his car. Due to Zargari's arrest, Parsa Hashemi was left in the 
trunk of the car where he eventually died.

Though Saeed Zargari's hanging was reportedly carried out in public, Iranian 
authorities or media have not published any photos of the execution.

(source: Iran Human Rights)






SRI LANKA:

Sri Lankan president expects to implement capital punishment


Sri Lankan President Maithriapala Sirisena said that he is expecting to approve 
capital punishment on the island by next year, if he receives parliamentary 
approval.

Speaking in Galle today the president said that though he did not have to seek 
parliamentary approval, he would do consult with parliament and seek its 
opinion.

Earlier this year, whilst meeting with Buddhist monks Sri Lanka's Justice 
Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe also stated that his government was prepared to 
implement capital punishment in order to put a halt to an increase in crime.

Mr Sirisena stated that the powers vested in him allowed him to implement the 
death penalty and pointed to other countries that use "gallows, electric chairs 
and lethal injection" reports Adaderana.

(source: Tamil Guardian)



SOMALIA----executions

7 soldiers executed for 'murdering civilians'


7 soldiers were executed by firing squad in the Southern strategic port town of 
Kismayo on Friday after a court found them guilty of murdering civilians, 
Horseed Media reports.

According to officials of the Jubbaland regional administration, the soldiers 
were convicted on charges which included killing of 2 local residents yesterday 
evening.

Some reports claim that the soldiers were involved in an al-Shabaab attack 
carried on a military camp that led to the death of 3 army officers.

Death penalty is legal in Somalia. There was a decrease in the number of 
executions in Somalia last year compared to the previous years, Amnesty 
International said in a recent report.

EU being in line with Amnesty International is opposed to the use of capital 
punishment in all cases and under all circumstances and has consistently called 
for its universal abolition.

(source: horseedmedia.net)