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Japan | Hakamada found religion, but then felt under attack by ‘the devil’

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Editor's note: This is the last in a four-part series on letters that Iwao Hakamada wrote while on death row. About a decade after cursing God, Iwao Hakamada was baptized Catholic at the Tokyo Detention House on Dec. 24, 1984. “Since I have been given the Christian name Paul, I am keenly feeling that I should be aware of the greatness of Paul.” (June 1985)

Australian death row pair gain new hope after Corby clemency success

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Kerobokan prison
SCHAPELLE Corby's successful clemency plea could help the two Australians languishing on death row in Kerobokan prison, according to their lawyer, because the Indonesian system had shown itself to be ''flexible''.

Julian McMahon, a member of the legal team for heroin smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, said the clemency decision demonstrated ''the flexibility of the Indonesian system''.

''The decision is helpful,'' Mr McMahon said. ''The bilateral relations between the two countries have been steadily improving for years, and … this is very important to us on the legal team.''

It was revealed late on Monday that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a clemency letter on May 15, reducing 34-year-old Corby's drug smuggling sentence by five years.

Mr McMahon said Dr Yudhoyono had previously made it clear he was strongly against clemency for drug traffickers.

''On the other hand, he has now granted clemency or sentence reductions on a couple of occasions, which demonstrates his flexibility.''


Source: WAToday, AAP, May 24, 2012
Location: Bali
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