Lawmaker supports death penalty

Lawmaker supports death penalty

SURAKARTA, Central Java: A legislator threw his weight on
Monday behind an idea to impose the death penalty for corruption
convicts, saying the crime was as extraordinary as acts of
terrorism.

Deputy House of Representatives Speaker Zaenal Ma'arif said
the death sentence would be effective to deter people from
committing embezzlement, which has been rampant in the country.

Under the prevailing anticorruption law, a convict faces a
maximum life sentence, which Zaenal said had failed to stop
corruption.

"Even a defendant who is found guilty of stealing Rp 10
billion in state money deserves the death penalty. We are not
talking about the amount of state losses, but an effective
deterrent," Zaenal said on the sidelines of a congress organized
by Reform Star Party members who challenge the leadership of
chairman Zainuddin MZ.

On Sunday, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur
Wahid called for the death sentence for convicted state money
thieves. -- JP