[Deathpenalty] death penalty news-----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

March 27



AUSTRALIA:

AFP boss opposed to death penalty


Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty says he's
personally opposed to the death penalty, despite his agency's role in the
Bali Nine drug case.

The AFP has faced continued criticism over allegations its officers could
have arrested the members of the Bali 9 drug smuggling group in Australia,
saving them from facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

The group's two ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were
sentenced to death after being convicted of trying to smuggle heroin from
Bali to Australia.

The other seven Australians were given life sentences.

But Mr Keelty said he had a duty to fulfil as AFP commissioner and his
personal beliefs about the death penalty did not matter.

"I'm a practising Christian and I don't believe in the death penalty, but
I have to do my job according to my oath without fear or favour, affection
or ill will ...," Mr Keelty told ABC TV's Four Corners program.

He said Indonesia's sovereignty had to be respected and people caught up
in international crime must recognise that different countries have
different justice systems.

Mr Keelty said the portrayal of the AFP as executioners of the Bali Nine
was ridiculous because their sentences were determined by the Indonesian
court system.

"We deliver the evidence to the court and the court determines the guilt
or innocence of the people involved and then determines the sentence," he
said.

The program also revealed that Andrew Chan had allegedly recruited other
drug mules in Thailand.

It said Thai prostitute Cherry Likit Bannakorn had delivered drugs to Bali
shortly before the Bali 9 were arrested on April 17 last year.

She allegedly made 2 drug drops in the space of a week and, despite being
detected by local police surveillance, escaped arrest and returned to
Thailand.

The Bali 9 were arrested a short time later by Indonesian police
determined not to let more drug mules slip through the net, the program
said.

Ms Likit told the program that she wishes Andrew Chan dead for the trouble
he brought her.

(source: AAP)