August 18
INDIA:
Man out on bail for murder gets death sentence for raping woman in Madhya
Pradesh----At least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various
courts in the state since February this year so far.
A local court has sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a woman while
he was out on bail after being convicted earlier for a murder.
While awarding the death penalty to Prakash Lahase (34) yesterday, Sessions
Judge of Special Court Rajesh Nandeshwar observed, "The case falls in the
category of the rarest of rare cases. Such persons are like gangrene in society
which has to be removed from the body to save it."
Quoting the judge, public prosecutor Shantaram Wankhede said, "The judiciary
has a duty to remove the accused from the society. Criminals will have a free
run if they are not punished properly, and the fear in them of deterrent will
end."
The public prosecutor said that judge Nandeshwar sentenced Lahase to death
under Section 302 (murder) and awarded him life imprisonment on 2 different
counts -- Section 376 (2) (sexual assault) and 364 (kidnapping to kill) of the
Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In 38 days, the court examined 38 witnesses before pronouncing the verdict, he
said.
Prosecutor Wankhede said that Lahase had kidnapped the 30-year-old victim on
May 17 this year from Khadkod village, some 8 kilometres from the district
headquarters.
"He raped the woman at a deserted place and killed her by crushing her head
with a stone. He then disposed of the body in a well," Wankhede said.
Judge Nandeshwar, while delivering his verdict, also said that women were
feeling "extremely helpless and insecure" following a spurt in rape cases,
Wankhede said.
At least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various courts in
the state since February this year.
Under fire for growing number of rape cases, the MP government had brought a
Bill in December last year, a first for the country, prescribing the death
penalty for those convicted of raping minors below the age of 12.
It also set up 50 fast track courts to speed up the trial of those accused of
rape.
According to statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau released in
November last year, MP accounted for the the highest number of rape cases at
4,882 out of a total of 38,947 recorded nationwide in 2016.
The figure of 4,882 included 2,479 cases involving minor victims.
Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of rape cases (4,391) in 2015 too,
according to the NCRB report.
(source: newindianexpress.com)
TANZANIA:
Msuya killers file appeal against death sentence
The death sentence against the quintet was passed on July 23, this year, by
Judge Salma Maghimbi of the High Court, whereby she acquitted the 2nd accused
Shwaibu Jumanne alias Mredii. The convicts are the 1st accused Sharifu Mohamed,
Mussa Mangu (3rd accused), Karim Kihundwa (5th accused), Sadik Jabir (6th
accused) and the 7th accused Ally Majeshi.
(source: thecitizen.co.tz)
MALAYSIA:
Malaysia frees Metuh of drug charge, death sentence
A Nigerian student, Joseph Metuh Onyinye has been freed of a drug charge in
Malaysia after the prosecution failed to prove that he knew that an unopened
parcel contained methamphetamine, known locally as syabu.
Justice Datuk Lim Chong Fong of the High Court in George Town acquitted Joseph
Metuh Onyinye, 35, without calling for his defence.
He ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case
against Onyinye, who was charged with trafficking 1.8kg of syabu.
The Nigerian was charged with committing the offence on Oct 31, 2014, at about
3.10pm at Miami Green Resort Condominium in Batu Ferringhi, Penang.
In his decision, Lim said the prosecution had not proven possession as the
parcel was still unopened and was intact at the point of arrest.
Moreover, it was not addressed to Onyinye.
"In this case, the prosecution has not proven possession because there was no
evidence that he (Onyinye) had knowledge of the existence of the drugs inside
the parcel that was delivered," he said.
The Nigerian was charged with committing an offence under Section 39B(1)(a) of
the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which is punishable under Section 39B(2) of the
same Act.
It carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
(source: nan.ng)
IRAN----executions
Iran executes 6 for theft, looting
Iranian authorities on Saturday executed 6 people on charges of looting and
theft in the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to the state television.
State prosecutor Hassan Haidari said the executions were carried out upon the
approval of the High Court of Justice.
According to Haidari, the 6 people "were not poor" and were in no need to
steal.
"The death penalty should be a lesson for everyone who harms the safety and
integrity of society," he said.
Iran has been facing economic difficulties as the U.S. re-imposed the 1st round
of economic sanctions on the country, which mainly target the Tehran's banking
sector.
The sanctions are intended to hinder the country's acquisition of U.S.
currency; its precious metals trade; bank transactions denominated in the
Iranian rial; activities related to Iran's sovereign debt; and the country's
automotive sector.
(source: aa.com.tr)
*******************
Executions: Prisoner Hanged in Tabriz
A prisoner was hanged at Tabriz Central Prison on murder charges.
According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, August 15, a prisoner
was hanged at Tabriz Central Prison. The prisoner, identified as Milad Zia, was
sentenced to death on murder charges.
According to Kurdistan Human Rights Network, Milad Zia was arrested and
sentenced to death on the charge of murdering 4 people including a government
official.
IHR sources said that another prisoner, named Ali Narimani, was transferred to
the solitary confinement along with Milad but he returned to his cell by
winning the consent of the plaintiffs.
The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so
far.
According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the
517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges.
(source: Iran Human Rights)
LIBYA:
Canada opposes Libyan court's sentence of 45 former regime supporters to death
Canadian Embassy to Libya on Friday announced Canada's opposition to a Libyan
court's sentence of 45 supporters of former regime to death over killing
demonstrators in 2011.
"Canada supports justice for crimes committed, opposes the death penalty, and
calls on Libyan authorities and leaders to redouble their efforts to achieve
reconciliation, stability and decent living conditions for all Libyans," the
embassy said.
UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday expressed concern over the
court's death sentence, opposing "the imposition of the death penalty as a
matter of principle."
Libya's Court of Appeal on Wednesday sentenced 45 supporters of former leader
Muammar Gaddafi's regime to death over the killing of demonstrators in the
capital Tripoli during the 2011 uprising, the Ministry of Justice said.
Video footages circulated showed Gaddafi supporters forcing some demonstrators
to kneel down before killing them on the spot.
(source: xinhuanet.com)
*********************
UN "concerned" by death sentences passed on 45 pro Qaddafi killers of 2011
revolution supporting protestors
UNSMIL has today expressed its concern on the 45 death sentence by firing squad
passed by a Tripoli Court of Appeal yesterday on 45 people aligned to the
Qaddafi regime who had opened fire on pro 2011 revolution supporting protestors
on the main Tripoli motorway back in 2011.
In its statement today, UNSMIL said that "the verdict announced on 15 August
2018 by the Criminal Circuit of the Court of Appeal of Tripoli is a cause of
concern, given the 45 death sentences pronounced.
UNSMIL recognizes efforts by the Libyan judiciary to hold people to account for
crimes committed during the 2011 Revolution, especially amid armed conflict and
political polarization. However, the United Nations opposes the imposition of
the death penalty as a matter of principle", the short statement concluded.
It will be recalled that despite other death sentences being issued by Libyan
courts against former Qaddafi supporters since the 2011 revolution, none of
these sentences have been carried out.
(source: libyaherald.com)
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