Death penalty appeal voided

SURABAYA, East Java: Prosecutors on Monday demanded a court in the East Java capital of Surabaya to dismiss a second appeal by two convicts who were sentenced to death for the murder of a military officer.

Prosecutor Syahroni said that Sugeng and Sumiarsih's appeal violated Article 263 of the Criminal Code, and as well as Article 66 of the Supreme Court Law, which banned second appeals.

Moreover, he added, their case revealed nothing new that could justify another appeal. The first appeal was filed in 1995, and was rejected by the higher court.

Sugeng and Sumiarsih's lawyer Sutedja called for flexibility in interpreting the law, citing that exceptions were possible in other cases.

The government has been taking a harder stance in meting out capital punishment, with over a dozen convicts awaiting their execution date. -- JP