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Indonesia | 14 years on death row: Timeline of Mary Jane Veloso’s ordeal and fight for justice

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MANILA, Philippines — The case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has spanned over a decade and remains one of the most high-profile legal battles involving an overseas Filipino worker. Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was sentenced to death in October – just six months after her arrest. Indonesia’s Supreme Court upheld the penalty in May 2011.

Botswana confirms hanging

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November 5, 2007: the Botswana Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation confirmed the hanging of death row inmate Sepeni Thubisane Popo, the Mmegi Newspaper reported.

It was Botswana's 39th execution since independence from Britain in 1966. Mmegi quoted senior assistant commissioner Anthony Mokento as saying: 'It is true Popo was hanged.'

Popo was found guilty of murdering Boitshwarelo Balotlegi in Molepolole in 2004 to use his body for ritual purposes.

'Mokento would not reveal the number of people on death row in Botswana, but recent media reports say 'three or four people' are facing execution,' Mmegi said.

Officially, 'Botswana upholds the use of the death penalty in cases of premeditated murder where there are no extenuating circumstances'.

Source: South African Press Association, 06/11/2007
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