RI seeks clemency for workers on death row
RI seeks clemency for workers on death row
JAKARTA (JP): The government is seeking clemency for five Indonesian workers on death row in Malaysia, a senior official of the manpower ministry said yesterday.
Director General for Manpower Placement Abdul Rachim said the government, through the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia, would ask the Malaysian government to reduce the sentences to life imprisonment.
"We are obliged to do something to help them because they are Indonesian citizens," he told The Jakarta Post.
Five Indonesian workers have reportedly been sentenced to death by Malaysian courts for their roles in murder, drug trafficking and rape cases. Twelve others are facing capital punishment for similar offenses.
Rachim said that the Indonesian government did not mean to intervene in the Malaysian court system.
"Indonesia cannot pressure Malaysia to pardon the convicts simply because the two countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," he said.
He said the ministry will contact the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur for the identities of the convicts.
Meanwhile, Soetarto, minister counselor at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said that the Indonesian convicts will have to await the decision of the Malaysian Pardon Board.
Malaysian laws are strict about cases of narcotic, rape and murder, but the chance for clemency is still possible, he added.
"Somebody who is found guilty of having up to three grams of certain narcotics in that country can be sentenced to death," Republika quoted him as saying.
Soetarto said Malaysia up to now has condemned almost 800 foreigners to death in narcotics, rape and murder cases. Over 400 foreign workers allegedly involved in similar offenses are now facing the same fate.
Up to now, three Indonesians have been executed in the neighboring country for various offenses. They were Ramli Kecik, Basri Masse and Karno Marzuki, who were hanged in 1986, 1990 and 1991 respectively.
He said the Indonesian embassy was also seeking Indonesian defense lawyers to accompany the 12 other Indonesians still being tried for crimes punishable by death.
"We will do the best we can to help the Indonesian citizens," he said.
He said about 200 Indonesian prisoners have completed their jail terms in several Malaysian prisons and will later be repatriated. (rms)