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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Indonesia: Police Tight-Lipped About the Death Penalty in Cyanide Coffee Case

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Jessica Kumala Wongso
Jessica Kumala Wongso
Jakarta. Police remained tight-lipped on Wednesday (02/03) about Indonesia's guarantee that murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso, a permanent resident of Australian, will not face the death penalty.

The Jakarta Police have sought assistance from the Australian Federal Police in their investigation into the case of Wayan Mirna Salihin, killed in early January from drinking cyanide-spiked coffee at a cafe of a high-end Central Jakarta mall.

Jakarta Police officials last week flew to Australia to discuss the case, and said the Australian government has officially approved their request.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Sunday that a spokeswoman for Justice Minister Michael Keenan, who personally signed the request, had told Fairfax Media: "The Indonesian government has given its assurance to the Australian government that the death penalty will not be sought" against Jessica.

Jakarta Police general crimes director Sr. Comr. Krishna Murti, meanwhile, confirmed to Fairfax Media the approval came after Indonesia's Attorney General's Office guaranteed it would not demand the death penalty.

But Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian, asked on Wednesday about the guarantee, replied: "I will not comment on the matter. It is better to avoid further polemics."

"I have called on my subordinates to just focus on collecting evidence and completing the case dossiers," Tito added.

Police said that Australian authorities will assist in investigating the relationship between Jessica and Mirna, who had studied together at Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney and the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.

Police have charged Jessica with premeditated murderer under Article 340 of Indonesia's Criminal Law. If found guilty, she may be sentence to life or at least 20 years in prison.

Source: Jakarta Globe, March 2, 2016

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Location: Indonesia
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