Death penalty appeal voided

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