May 12
NEPAL:
Families of Nepalese facing death penalty appeal for release
The families of the 2 Nepalese nationals, Indra Bahadur Tamang and Bala
Tamang have appealed internationally the death penalty imposed on the duo
by Indonesian court which convicted them on drug trafficking charges.
At the programmeme of the signature campaign organised here yesterday by
the Amnesty International for the release of the duo, the mother of Indra
Bahadur Tamang, Poti Tamang, tearfully appealed all the people to help
release her son.
According to her, Indra Bahadur had left for Indonesia for foreign
employment 5 years ago.
But he did not return since then. Instead, the bad news of his death
penalty came.
Similarly,Bala Tamang had gone to Indonesia for foreign employment 7 years
ago.
According to Balas wife, Shanti Kumari Tamang and sister Maya Gurung, they
received his call only twice all these years.
The last time they heard about him was the news of death penalty on him.
At the programmeme of the signature campaign that started with Poti Tamang
putting her signature, human rights activists, journalists,
representatives of different organizations and citizens expressed their
solidarity with her by making signatures.
The duo are expected to go through death penalty after few months,
according to coordinator of Amnesty International Group 3, Bhani Bahadur
Kharel.
The Foreign Ministry in Nepal had reportedly sent the message to the
Foreign Ministry in Indonesia as well as the Indonesian Embassy in New
Delhi informing that Nepal has no provision of death penalty.
(source: The Rising Nepal)
PHILIPPINES:
2 death sentences for drug dealer
A Caloocan City Regional Trial Court judge yesterday handed down two death
sentences to a 36-year-old eatery owner, who was busted by the police for
possession and trafficking of some 12 kilos of shabu over four years ago
in Caloocan City.
In his 54-page decision, Branch 120 Judge Victorino Alvaro also imposed a
fine of P500,000 each for the 2 crimes perpetrated by the accused.
Joseph Manigque, then 32 when apprehended, of Kaybiga, Caloocan City,
stood with head bowed and heaved a deep sigh as his sentence was read in
open court that lasted some 3 hours.
In their joint affidavit, arresting officers PO2 Gaspar Talaue Jr. and PO2
Isah Taurac, both of the Chemical Diversion Investigation Division of the
Narcotics Group in Camp Crame, said that about 9 a.m. of Jan. 6, 2001,
they received a report from an informant that a certain "Jojo," who later
turned out to be Manigque, was looking "desperately" for a prospective
buyer of shabu.
The asset told them Manigque spoke about plans to buy a house and lot from
the sale of the illegal drug, even giving him a sample of the shabu in an
effort to convince him that he meant business.
6 days later, a deal was closed by Manigque with Inspector Salvador Caro
of the same unit over the phone for one kilo at P450,000. The delivery
failed to materialize as the goods were allegedly in the hands of his
partner living in Bago Bantay, Quezon City.
On Jan. 17, the informant made a very urgent call to the operatives,
saying Manigque was very insistent on a delivery saying he has two kilos
to be disposed.
A deal was quickly closed with the accused. An entrapment operation was
immediately launched with Taurac designated as poseur-buyer.
At 8:30 a.m. the following day, Caros team posted themselves at strategic
locations in the subdivision.
At 10:55 a.m., Jojo, with the 2 kilos of shabu in a white bag in his hand,
was seen leaving his place towards his eatery where Taurac waited as
arranged.
Taurac then checked the stuff, then at the pre-arranged signal, turned his
cap, introduced himself as a policeman to the surprised Manigque, who was
later handcuffed by police officers.
Manigque then found himself in deeper trouble when he offered to bribe the
officers in exchange for his freedom.
While inside the police vehicle on the way to the Narcgroup office, Jojo
told the officers that if released, he would voluntarily surrender the
remaining stock of shabu (10 kilos), which he hid within the premises of
his mothers residence in Vista Verde North.
The team proceeded therein and the accused dug up a blue plastic container
that contained 10 transparent self sealing plastic bags weighing a kilo
each of the illegal drug.
(source: The Philippine Star)
