[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 20




INDONESIA:

Record 11 Taiwanese sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug crimes----The 11 
Taiwanese sentenced to death for drug crimes in Indonesia are a new record high



As the Indonesian government intensifies its crackdown on illegal drugs, there 
are currently 11 Taiwanese that have been sentenced to death for drug offenses, 
a new record high, according to Indonesian official sources cited in a CNA 
report.

In its effort to clamp down on the illegal drug trade, foreign nationals have 
also been targeted, with 11 Taiwanese sentenced to death for drug trafficking, 
3 of whom are already on death row, including Chen Chia-wei, Wang An-kang, and 
Lo Chih-cheng, stated the report.

The 8 other Taiwanese citizens who have been sentenced to death by Indonesian 
district and high courts are surnamed Lin, Chen, Chuang, Li, Shih, Wu, Hung, 
and Yeh. Although the 8 have not completed the judicial process, Indonesia's 
track record with death penalty case indicates that their chances of appealing 
their sentences are slim.

Since last year, 4 Taiwanese drug suspects have been executed for their crimes 
in Indonesia. There are currently over 30 Taiwanese nationals imprisoned in 
Indonesia for drug trafficking.

As part of the country's war on drugs, Indonesian President Joko Widodo is 
intensifying the severity of punishments, and has even told his police officers 
to "gun down" drug traffickers if necessary, especially foreigners, said John 
Chen, head of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia. Chen was 
quoted by CNA as warning Taiwanese citizens "not for one moment to consider 
smuggling drugs to Indonesia."

(source: taiwannews.com.tw)








MALAYSIA:

Contractor escapes gallows thanks to trial judge's misstep----The Federal 
Court, in finding that a trial judge had acted as prosecutor and asked a 
prosecution witness incriminating questions, reduces murder charge and 
sentences contractor to 20 years' in jail.



A contractor who stabbed to death his relative after a drinking session today 
escaped the death penalty due to a misstep by the trial judge.

The Federal Court instead sentenced Paul Lagang anak Malip to 20 years' after 
finding him guilty of killing, without intention, Morris Asang Yahya.

"We are substituting the charge from murder to culpable homicide due to the 
manner the trial was conducted," said Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard 
Malanjum, who chaired the 5-man bench.

He said the conviction for murder was "unsafe".

Malanjum, in the course of the proceeding, said the trial judge had played the 
role of prosecutor.

Another member of the bench, Jeffrey Tan Kok Hwa, remarked that the judge had 
crossed the line by asking incriminating questions to eye-witness, Robin Bapi.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, appearing for Paul, told the bench the trial judge did 
not allow him to cross-examine Robin to determine his veracity and reliability 
as a prosecution witness.

Gobind said the judge had also observed that Robin, being from the Kenyah 
community in Sarawak, needed an interpreter but this was not made available.

"As a result, material part of his evidence, especially on the stabbing 
incident was incomprehensible," he said.

The lawyer said the bench should either send the case back for retrial or 
reduce the charge.

Paul, 30 committed the offence at No 24A-2, Jalan Utama 2/1, Taman Puchong 
Utama, in Bukit Puchong, between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Aug 13, 2013.

Government lawyer K Mangai urged the court to impose a jail term ranging 
between 20 and 25 years.

(source: freemalaysiatoday.com)








NIGERIA:

Fayose signs new law with death penalty as punishment for cultism



Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has signed into law, the bill prohibiting 
secret cults and terrorism, with death penalty as punishment for anyone caught 
in the acts.

While signing the bill at the government house in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, Fayose 
said the law was a confirmation of his government's commitment to fighting 
cultism and terrorism in the state.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said the governor 
frowned at the resurgence of cultism especially among students in tertiary 
institutions.

"From now, any person who is a member of a secret cult, whether or not the 
person is in possession or in control of any offensive weapon but commits the 
offence, is liable to conviction to death.

"Any person who gives financial or material support or assistance to a secret 
cult or in any manner sponsor the activities of a secret cult, commits an 
offence under this law and is liable for conviction to imprisonment for life" 
he said.

The governor also warned that anyone who intentionally encouraged the 
establishment of secret cult meetings or activities in places such as houses, 
nightclubs, and hotels, would be committed to life imprisonment.

(source: ripplesnigeria.com)