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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 Detain 7 in International Meth Ring Flying From Aceh to Jakarta

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Jakarta Police arrested seven suspected drug traffickers at the capital’s airport and other locations earlier this month with 6.5 kilogram of crystal methamphetamine worth Rp 13 billion ($1.1 million), a police spokesman said.

“The drug division has successfully arrested seven suspects and confiscated 6.5 kilogram of crystal meth, two passports, scales, a Walther firearm and five rubber bullets,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said at his office on Thursday.

He said that the syndicate, which police say operated out of China, Indonesia and Malaysia, was uncovered after suspect S.Y.M. was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Feb. 4, 2014. When searched, the officer found 100 gram of crystal meth inside his shoes.

“The suspect, S.Y.M, brought the crystal meth from Banda Aceh on a [Garuda Indonesia] airplane,” Rikwanto said. “It was not detected in the airport, but he was arrested by police officers when he stepped out of the airport.”

S.Y.M. told police that he was ordered to bring the crystal meth to Jakarta by A.T. and M.N. — two people wanted by police in Malaysia on drug charges.

“The narcotics were from a drug lord in Malaysia,” Rikwanto said. “[S.Y.M.] was paid Rp 20 million.”

Based on S.Y.M.’s testimony, Taiwan national H.H.Y. was arrested in an apartment on Jalan Hayam Wuruk, in West Jakarta, on Feb. 8. Police found 50 grams of crystal meth there.

“Also arrested was suspect L.Y.A [a Taiwan national] with 5 grams of crystal meth in a Gajah Mada apartment in West Jakarta,” he said.

H.H.Y. and L.Y.A. told the police that they got the order to deliver the drug from a prisoner at Cipinang prison, identified as J.N.T.

After arresting them, police also arrested another two people, identified by police as G.G.L. and Y.D.R.

“G.G.L. [was detained] in the parking lot of the Aston Marina Resident Apartment in Ancol, North Jakarta, while Y.D.R. was arrested on Jalan Thamrin. We confiscated evidence of 6.3 kilogram of crystal meth from both suspects.”

Officials capped the operation by arresting H.R.T. in Palangkaraya, seizing 100 grams of crystal meth, and detaining A.D.E on Jalan Mangga Besar, in West Jakarta. Police found the firearm while arresting A.D.E.

The seven suspects will be charged under Indonesia’s anti-narcotics penal code and could face the death sentence.

Source: JakartaGlobe, Feb. 21, 2014
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