Astini faces execution

SURABAYA: Astini, a 49-year old woman on death row for multiple murders in Surabaya, East Java, will likely face the police firing squad this week, officials said here on Wednesday.

"The execution will be carried out in the near future. I cannot specify the date. God willing, this week," said Surabaya High Prosecutor's Office head AF Darmawan.

Surabaya prison chief Wibowo Joko Harjono confirmed the plan to execute Astini this week. "She arrived here on Tuesday at around 11 p.m. from the Lowok Waru women's prison in Malang (East Java)."

Prosecutors said Astini's execution had originally been scheduled for after Idul Fitri in November.

Astini was found guilty eight years ago of murdering and mutilating three women on separate occasions between August 1993 and September 1995. She killed the three because they were unable to repay their debts to her.

Indonesia executed three convicts for drug trafficking last year.

Namsong Sirilak, a 32-year-old woman, and Saelow Prasert, a 62-year-old man, both Thai nationals, were executed separately on Oct. 1. Another convict, who was sentenced to death for smuggling 12 kilograms of heroin, Indian national Ayodhay Prasad Chaubey, was executed in August. The Medan District Court found the three guilty and sentenced them to death in 1996. --Antara