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After acquittal of ex-death row inmate, debate needed on Japan's death penalty

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Japan should be ensuring the safety of its citizens, but instead it is taking people's lives. Is it acceptable to maintain the ultimate penalty under such circumstances? This is a serious question for society. The acquittal of 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada, who had been handed the death penalty, has been finalized after prosecutors decided not to appeal the verdict issued by the Shizuoka District Court during his retrial.

Malaysian court releases 2 Indonesian workers from death sentence

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The judge at Putrajaya Higher Court, Malaysia, has released 2 Indonesian workers from death penalty in the case of drug possession, according to information from Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, received here on Wednesday.

Azhar bin Zakaria and Ismail bin Ibrahim were caught by the Malaysian police last May 2012. Both were detained after police found 20 kg of Cannabis in the trunk of a car used by Azhar and Ibrahim.

According to previous trial at the Malaysian High Court, both defendants were sentenced to death for drug possession. The defendants then appealed to the Higher Court arguing that there were different versions of the arrest process between the police and the defendants. The defendants lawyer further added that the prosecutor, during previous trial, had failed to show the physical evidence in the case, namely the car used by the defendants during the time of the arrest.

Considering the lawyers argument, the judge at Putrajaya Higher Court gave the verdict that the case against Azhar and Ibrahim could not be proceeded due to lack of evidence.

Responding to the dismissal of death sentence to the 2 Indonesian workers, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is currently processing the repatriation of both the workers.

Up till now, 167 Indonesians have been freed from death sentence in Malaysia while another 181 are currently awaiting the legal proceedings for their cases.

Source: Antara News, January 22, 2014
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