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British woman on death row will not be reprieved says Indonesia's president | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A British woman on death row in Indonesia for drug smuggling will not be reprieved according to the country’s new president. | |
President Joko Widodo has announced that inmates already incarcerated for drug offences would not receive clemency. | President Joko Widodo has announced that inmates already incarcerated for drug offences would not receive clemency. |
“[Not all the clemency requests] are on my table yet. But I guarantee that there will be no clemency for convicts who committed narcotics-related crimes,” the president was reported to have announced in a speech to university students. | “[Not all the clemency requests] are on my table yet. But I guarantee that there will be no clemency for convicts who committed narcotics-related crimes,” the president was reported to have announced in a speech to university students. |
Lindsay Sandiford, a 58-year-old from Cheltenham has been sentenced to death for smuggling 4.8kg of cocaine into Bali. | Lindsay Sandiford, a 58-year-old from Cheltenham has been sentenced to death for smuggling 4.8kg of cocaine into Bali. |
Sandiford arrived on a flight from Thailand in May 2012 with an estimated £1.6m worth of the drug concealed in her suitcase. | Sandiford arrived on a flight from Thailand in May 2012 with an estimated £1.6m worth of the drug concealed in her suitcase. |
She has maintained her innocence since her arrest, claiming she transported the drug under duress to protect her children, whom she said had been threatened. | She has maintained her innocence since her arrest, claiming she transported the drug under duress to protect her children, whom she said had been threatened. |
Appeals to have her death sentence repealed have subsequently been rejected by both Indonesia’s high court and supreme court. | Appeals to have her death sentence repealed have subsequently been rejected by both Indonesia’s high court and supreme court. |
Speaking to a group of academics and students at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, president Widodo said there would be “no excuse” for drug traffickers. | Speaking to a group of academics and students at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, president Widodo said there would be “no excuse” for drug traffickers. |
He said his tough stance is the “shock therapy” required to combat what he described as a drug “emergency” in the country. | He said his tough stance is the “shock therapy” required to combat what he described as a drug “emergency” in the country. |
“I will reject clemency requests submitted by 64 death [row inmates] convicted of drugs cases,” said the president. | “I will reject clemency requests submitted by 64 death [row inmates] convicted of drugs cases,” said the president. |
President Widodo’s comments come on the back of his decision last week to deny clemency to five inmates on death row, reportedly for drug-charges. | President Widodo’s comments come on the back of his decision last week to deny clemency to five inmates on death row, reportedly for drug-charges. |
The five inmates will be executed by a firing squad this month. | The five inmates will be executed by a firing squad this month. |
More than 100 Indonesian and foreign nationals are on death row here and 64 of those were sentenced for drug-related charges. | More than 100 Indonesian and foreign nationals are on death row here and 64 of those were sentenced for drug-related charges. |
Among those are two Australians. | Among those are two Australians. |
Fadillah Agus who represented Sandiford during her supreme court appeal last year – but is no longer her counsel – said the British woman refused to appeal for clemency because she had maintained her innocence. | |
“As far as I know she never applied for clemency because that would mean she was guilty,” Agus told the Guardian. | “As far as I know she never applied for clemency because that would mean she was guilty,” Agus told the Guardian. |
It is unclear whether Sandiford has any current legal representation in Indonesia but her former lawyer said there were only two options now left for the British woman. | It is unclear whether Sandiford has any current legal representation in Indonesia but her former lawyer said there were only two options now left for the British woman. |
“First she could submit a judicial review, but only if there is new evidence,” he said, “The only other possibility is to apply for clemency from the president.” | “First she could submit a judicial review, but only if there is new evidence,” he said, “The only other possibility is to apply for clemency from the president.” |
According to Agus, Sandiford’s mental condition was unstable and highly changeable when they were last in contact. | According to Agus, Sandiford’s mental condition was unstable and highly changeable when they were last in contact. |
Sandiford previously appealed to the UK foreign office for financial help to fund her appeals but was told that she could only be provided with assistance through diplomatic channels. | Sandiford previously appealed to the UK foreign office for financial help to fund her appeals but was told that she could only be provided with assistance through diplomatic channels. |
Amnesty International has urged the Indonesian government to impose a moratorium on the five executions. | Amnesty International has urged the Indonesian government to impose a moratorium on the five executions. |
Data from the National Narcotics Agency shows that 47 traffickers on death row are foreigners. | Data from the National Narcotics Agency shows that 47 traffickers on death row are foreigners. |
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