[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

July 3



PAKISTAN:

Man sentenced to death for murdering schoolgirl



The Model Criminal Court, Haripur, has awarded death penalty to a man who had 
gunned down a schoolgirl four years back in the Hattar village. According to 
prosecution record, Azra Bibi, 14, daughter of, Amjad Iqbal of Hattar village, 
was a student of 10th grade in the Government Higher Secondary School, Hattar. 
On the morning of September 8, 2015, she was on the way to her school when 
Adnan, son of Muhammad Aslam from the same village, intercepted her. The 
convict attempted to drag her for an unknown purpose, which she resisted and 
the accused opened fire, killing her on the spot.

(source: thenews.com.pk)








SINGAPORE:

Man charged over murders



1 week before Chinese New Year in 2017, debt-ridden property agent Teo Ghim 
Heng strangled his wife, who was 6 months pregnant, and their 4-year-old 
daughter.

He slept on the same bed as the bodies for 1 week in his Wood­lands flat, with 
the air-conditioner turned on to delay the decomposition process.

He searched online for ways to commit suicide, leaving the flat only to buy 
food and air freshener.

He then set the bodies on fire, claiming that he had also tried to kill himself 
in the blaze but aborted his attempt as it was too hot.

He gave excuses when his wife’s family asked about her whereabouts and they 
eventually called the police on the first day of Chinese New Year.

The details surrounding the deaths of Teo’s wife Choong Pei Shan, 39, her 
daughter Zi Ning, and unborn son emerged yesterday as prosecutors set out their 
case against him for a double-murder on the `st day of his trial.

Teo, 43, is charged with 2 counts of murder for killing his wife and daughter 
on Jan 20, 2017, with the intention of causing death, which carries the 
mandatory death penalty.

A 3rd charge of killing his unborn son has been stood down for now.

The High Court heard that Teo was an avid gambler who racked up debts of at 
least S$120,000 (RM365,900) at the end of 2016, but kept his wife in the dark 
about the extent of his debts.

He listed the flat for sale and took on another job as a sales coordinator.

“The accused felt that Choong should have contributed to the household income 
by working.

“He also never fully forgave her for an affair she had a few years back, and 
strongly suspected that Zi Ning was not his biological daughter,” said deputy 
public prosecutor Han Ming Kuang.

According to Teo’s statements to the police, he and Choong, a housewife, had an 
argument on Jan 18, 2017, about his financial problems.

He told her he had a debt of S$70,000 (RM213,450) and could not pay their 
daughter’s school fees.

2 days later, the couple argued about money again in the master bedroom.

Teo told police that he looped a towel around Choong’s neck and pulled both 
ends for about 15 minutes, and then strangled her until she stopped breathing.

He then did the same to his daughter.

Teo claimed he tried to take his own life after setting fire to the 2 bodies by 
lying on the bed next to them.

On Jan 23, 3 days after the killings, 3 of Teo’s colleagues went to his flat to 
look for him as he had not shown up for work, but Teo refused to leave.

He also repeatedly lied to his and his wife’s families to explain their absence 
at Chinese New Year gatherings, saying that Choong was ill and using her phone 
to communicate with her family members and Zi Ning’s teachers.

On Jan 28, the 1st day of Chinese New Year, Choong’s brother came knocking at 
the door but got no response.

That same day, Teo used a payphone at the void deck to call his mother-in-law 
and mother, lying that his wife had kicked him out of the flat, deputy public 
prosecutor Dillon Kok told the court.

Choong’s family was suspicious and returned to the flat.

Upon detecting a pungent odour coming from inside, they called the police.

(source: thestar.com.my)








PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

PNG parliament considers death penalty



The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister says parliament will continue debate 
whether the death penalty is maintained in the criminal code.

The newspaper The National reported James Marape was responding to questions 
about 11 prisoners who have been on death row for over 10 years.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Davis Steven, 
said PNG officials conducted a $US600,000 fact-finding mission overseas to look 
at methods of execution.

But he said the national court has directed the government to examine legal 
provisions relating to the power of mercy.

Meanwhile, Mr Marape said he has instructed the Correctional Services Minister 
to convert prisons into an industry.

The prime minister said prisoners should be educated with vocational skills to 
contribute back to society.

(source: Radio New Zealand)








SRI LANKA:

Prisoners rights group to handover petition against death penalty to President



A prisoners rights group will hand over a petition against the death penalty to 
President Maithripala Sirisena today (Jul 3), in the backdrop of growing 
opposition against the punishment.

"The President can't hang whomever he wants. This is a civilised country," 
Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) Secretary Sudesh 
Nandimal Silva told Times Online.

Silva pointed out that a majority of the public have opposed this ad hoc 
decision taken by the President.

The CPRP will engage in a protest opposite the Fort Railway Station at 3 pm 
today and would then proceed towards the Presidential Secretariat in order to 
handover the petition.

Last week, the President had announced that he had signed the death penalty for 
4 inmates. The ruling party, opposition, and several non-governmental 
organisations have raised stiff opposition against this decision since then.

(source: sundaytimes.lk)




BANGLADESH:

9 awarded death penalty, dozens life imprisonment for 1994 train attacks in 
Bangladesh



A court in Bangladesh Pabna district, some 216 km west of capital Dhaka, has 
handed death penalty to 9 people for attacks on a train decades back with a 
view to assassinating then opposition leader and now incumbent Prime Minister 
Sheikh Hasina.

Additional Sessions Judge Rostom Ali on Wednesday handed down the verdict in 
presence of dozens of accused. Ali also sentenced 25 persons to life term.

Subject to confirmation of the apex court, the judge also jailed 13 people for 
10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

On September 23, 1994, Hasina was leading a nationwide campaign by rail when 
her coach came under attack upon arriving at a station in Pabna district. Her 
train was attacked with crude bombs and gunshots.

Hasina survived the assault.

Police subsequently filed a case accusing 52 persons and some others. Police 
pressed charge sheet against the accused on April 4, 1997, but all of them 
secured bail from court.

30 of the 52 accused were present before the court and sought bail Monday. 
Rejecting their bail plea, the court sent them to jail. It also issued arrest 
warrants against the rest of the accused.

(soruce: xinhuanet.com)








PHILIPPINES:

Sens. Bong Go and Manny Pacquiao have filed Senate bills seeking to reinstate 
the death penalty in the Philippines.



Bills seeking to reinstate capital punishment in the Philippines have been 
revived in the Senate ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress.

Among the senators who filed bills seeking to impose death penalty in the 
country were neophyte Sen. Bong Go and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, both from the 
administration PDP-Laban party.

Go filed Senate Bill (SB) 207 on Tuesday, one of the first bills that he filed 
in the Senate.

The first-term senator's proposed measure seeks to reinstate the death penalty 
for drug-related offenses and for plunder.

Under Go's proposed measure, the death penalty would be imposed through lethal 
injection.

"Towards this end, the State shall rationalize penal sanctions and impose the 
befitting penalty reserved by the Constitution for the most heinous crimes, for 
being grievous, odious, and hateful offenses, which by reason of their inherent 
or manifest wickedness, viciousness, atrocity, and perversity, are repugnant 
and outrageous to the common standards and norms of decency and morality in a 
just, civilized, and ordered society," SB 207 read.

Pacquiao's SB 189 also seeks to amend Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive 
Drugs Act of 2002.

The boxing icon-turned-senator proposed to impose a penalty of life 
imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P1 million to P10 million on 
those found guilty of importing and selling illegal drugs.

Those who would protect or coddle any violator of the Comprehensive Drug Act 
would also face a penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from 
P500,000 tp P1 million.

In his explanatory note, Pacquiao said drug trafficking remains "a highly 
lucrative illicit business with limited risks due to systemic poverty, 
ineffective criminal justice institutions, outdated drug control laws, poorly 
controlled maritime borders and public corruption."

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III earlier said the death penalty bill 
may be marked as a priority in the next session of Congress. He also said, 
though, that that would not automatically mean smooth passage through the 
Senate.

"It is possible but I cannot say if it will have higher chances because of the 
non-cloture rule in the Senate," Sotto said in May.

Cloture means cutting discussions and debates short, or ordering a member of 
the chamber to stop speaking so others may take the floor. Although this is 
allowed at the House of Representatives, the Senate rules do not have any 
provision on cloture.

(source: philstar.com)

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

Sotto doubts senators will support death penalty for plunder----Senate 
President Vicente Sotto III says the bill seeking to reimpose the death penalty 
for drug trafficking stands a better chance in the Senate



While he supports the proposal to reimpose the death penalty on plunder 
convicts, Senate President Vicente Sotto III doubts whether the measure would 
gain enough support in the Senate.

Sotto made the statement on Wednesday, July 3, when asked about the chance of 
the bill seeking to reimpose capital punishment on those convicted of plunder.

"[Okay] sa'kin pero I doubt kung ma-convince namin iba to support more heinous 
crimes (It's okay for me but I doubt if we will be able to convince others to 
support more heinous crimes [to be covered])," Sotto said.

"Remember, the only way is to present a compelling reason in order to reimpose 
the death penalty. Otherwise, it will violate the Constitution," he added.

Go on Tuesday, July 2, authored by newbie Senator Bong Go filed Senate Bill Bo 
207 seeking to reimpose the death penalty for illegal drugs and plunder cases. 
In including plunder as an offense punishable by death, Go said he was 
supporting President Rodrigo Duterte's bid to end corruption.

Sotto said in an interview with radio DZMM that death penalty for drug 
traffickers stood a better chance in the Senate.

"Kung meron mang may pag-asa, 'yung high-level drug trafficking lang. At ang 
sitwasyon ngayon, masasabi ko lang, nadagdagan 'yung boto in favor, so far," 
Sotto said.

(If there is hope, it's only for high-level drug trafficking. The situation now 
is that there are more votes in favor of it, so far.)

Sotto also said, however, that everything would still depend on the 
deliberation of the bills.

Aside from Go, Senator Manny Pacquaio had filed a bill seeking to reimpose the 
death penalty for illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking.

A total of 13 senators had expressed support for the reimposition of capital 
punishment. The others are Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Cynthia Villar, Imee 
Marcos, Aquilino Pimentel III, Juan Edgardo Angara, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla, 
Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, and Ronald dela Rosa.

In the 17th Congress, senators rejected the passage of the bill, while the 
House of Representatives passed it on third and final reading.

(source: Rappler.com)








NIGERIA:

Local news Taraba state assembly adopts death penalty for kidnappers----Taraba 
Assembly has adopted death penalty and life imprisonment for kidnappers and 
their accomplices



The bill would become Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition Amendment Act 2019 
immediately the state governor signs it.

In the bill, any person who attempts to kidnap shall be sentenced to life 
imprisonmentThe Taraba House of Assembly on Tuesday, July 2, amended the state 
Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition Act 2010, to introduce death penalty and 
life imprisonment for offenders.

Charles Maijankai, majority leader and member representing Karim Lamido 1 
constituency, moved the motion for the amendment of the Act which was seconded 
by Alhaji Bashir Mohammed, the minority leader of the House during plenary.

The speaker, Abel Diah said that the bill, upon its assent by Gov. Darius 
Ishaku would become Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition Amendment Act 2019.

The speaker said that the new bill has amended section 3, 4, 7 and 8 of the 
2010 Act.

He stated that the bill stipulates that any person who kidnaps or abducts a 
person or by any other means of instilling or tricking another person with 
intent to demand ransom or compel another person to do anything against his 
wish shall be sentenced to death.

He explained that the person shall also forfeit all property and proceeds 
traceable to him or her to the state government.

The speaker also said that any person who attempts to kidnap shall be sentenced 
to life imprisonment while any person who willfully permit his building or 
premises to be used for the act shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without 
an option of fine.

“The new bill prescribes punishment for violators as; any person who threatened 
to kill, maim, injure or cause panic in order to compel another person, 
corporate or government organisation to do or refrain from doing any act 
committed an offence and is liable on conviction to 20 years without an option 
of fine.“

It also said that any person who threaten to kidnap another person by means of 
phone calls, text messages or any electronic device shall be convicted to 20 
years imprisonment without an option of fine.

(source: legit.ng)