[Deathpenalty] death penalty news-----worldwide (fwd)

[Rick Halperin]

August 14


IRAQ:

Death sentence for Saddam likely soon


Jaafar al-Moussawi, the chief prosecutor in the trial against Saddam
Hussein, said Monday that any death sentence against the former Iraqi
president would be carried out "within 30 days of the date the verdict is
issued," media sources said.

The Iraqi High Criminal Court decreed it would issue its verdicts on
October 16 against Saddam and seven of his co-defendants in association
with the Dujail trial.

The Dujail trial is the 1st case against Saddam and his chief associates
in the former Baathist regime. Saddam and 6 other defendants are to stand
trial starting August 21 for alleged crimes committed during the Anfal
Operation of 1988.

"If the court issues a verdict of life imprisonment against Saddam (in the
Dujail trial) then he shall attend all the court sessions of the Anfal
Trial," al-Moussawi was quoted as saying by the London- based Arabic daily
al-Hayat.

"However, if the court issues the death sentence against Saddam, then he
shall be executed within 30 days of the date on which the verdict is
issued - in accordance with article 27 of the penal code (relating to
felonies)", the prosecutor said.

The Anfal Operation was a military campaign in which 182,000 Kurds were
killed, imprisoned or displaced in what the Iraqi Criminal High Court in
April charged was a "genocide against Kurds."

The Dujail trial, concerned with the killing of 148 people in the Shia
village of Dujail, was the 1st in which Saddam and his co- defendants
stood before the court.

Al-Moussawi refused for security reasons to disclose the name of the chief
justice of the Anfal trial, although Iraqi media had reported on Sunday
that the court had appointed Judge Abdallah al- Ameri.

The defence team for Saddam and his associates is to be composed of the
same lawyers who served during the Dujail Trial.

Amongst the most prominent of Saddam's co-defendants are the former chief
of the Northern Bureau Command Ali Hassan al-Majeed - known as chemical
Ali - former Defence Minister Sultan Hashem Ahmad and former military
intelligence chief Saber Abdel Aziz al-Douri.

(source: Bangkok Post)






INDONESIA:

Miracle last hour stay of execution for death row Indonesians


The spiritual advisor of 3 Indonesians condemned to death for their part
in Muslim-Christian violence has described the stay of execution following
an appeal from Pope Benedict as a "miracle."

AsiaNews reports that the execution of the 3 Indonesian Catholics -
Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwa - which had been
scheduled for Saturday has been stayed for at least a week.

The announcement was made by Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Oegroseno, who
said that the order came from National Police Chief General Sutanto.

But Catholics and Muslims opposed to the execution plan have not
interrupted their prayer vigils for the release of the 3 prisoners.

In the announcement that came after President Susilo met his top security
ministers, General Susanto said: "I can confirm that the execution has
been cancelled."

In point of fact, the cancellation is only temporary, ostensibly because
"all of Indonesia is now preparing to celebrate the 61st anniversary of
independence next August 17," the general said as he was leaving the State
Palace.

The sentence has been rescheduled for 3 days after Independence Day
celebrations, in all likelihood on 20 August.

Despite the official explanation, it is widely believed that the
postponement was due to strong pressures on the government from various
groups, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), human rights
activists, church leaders, the international community as well as the Holy
See.

In a statement, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said his
government is prepared to explain the reasons for the sentence.

For Fr Norbert Bethan, the 3 prisoners' spiritual advisor, the decision
was a miracle. "This is God's work," he told AsiaNews. "Just moments ago a
prison guard showed us the 3 coffins that are supposed to contain the
remains" of the 3 men.

Earlier Pope Benedict had asked for "an act of clemency" on "humanitarian
grounds, and in light of the particularity of the case," that would spare
the lives of 3 Catholics sentenced to death in Poso.

The 3 Catholics have been accused of masterminding Christian-Muslim
violence in Poso, central Sulawesi province, in 2001.

Amnesty International and church groups have said it was concerned at
reports indicating that the trial of the 3 men did not meet international
standards of fairness.

(source: Catholic News)






VIETNAM:

Hanoi cop nabbed for accepting bribes to save death row inmate


A former Hanoi policeman was arrested last Monday for allegedly receiving
VND420 million (US$26,250) in bribes to save a death roll inmate from
execution.

A source said former captain Nguyen Van Dua received the money several
years ago from drug trafficker Duong Van Chots wife, who promised to pay
out the policemans demand of $60,000 if her husband did not face the
firing squad.

However, Chot was still executed early last year and his wife spoke out
about the bribe money.

Dua was sacked in 2003 for numerous wrongdoings including disorder, and
sexual relations with family members of criminals under his investigation.

He later became addicted to heroin, police said.

(source: Thanh Nien News)