Feb. 26
UNITED KINGDOM/EGYPT:
Boris Johnson urged to call for end to mass death sentences in Egypt
The Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, is in Egypt this weekend for talks with
the President and Foreign Minister, according to reports.The visit comes amid
concerns over abuses in Egypt, including torture and the use of the death
penalty in mass trials of people who were arrested in connection to protests.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Priority Country update
report on Egypt for 2016 said "Egyptian courts continued to use the death
penalty," and highlighted "the mass trial of 494 individuals on charges related
to a protest that took place in August 2013, which includes Irish national
Ibrahim Halawa."
Ibrahim, who is assisted by the international human rights organisation
Reprieve, was a child when he was arrested. He faces a potential death
sentence, and has reported being regularly tortured.
Reprieve has raised concerns that a UK state-owned company, Northern Ireland
Cooperation Overseas Ltd, has provided Egypt's justice ministry with plans and
equipment for the building of courthouses - including a juvenile court in
Cairo. (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23541)
According to figures collated by Reprieve, nearly 2,000 people have received
death sentences in mass trials, while nearly 900 people - including Ibrahim -
continue to face the death penalty.
Harriet McCulloch, a deputy director at Reprieve, said: "Boris Johnson is
visiting Egypt as thousands of people languish in horrific prison conditions,
after they were arrested in connection with protests. Hundreds still face the
death penalty in desperately unfair mass trials - including people who were
arrested as children, like Ibrahim Halawa. The Foreign Office says it is
concerned about the human rights situation in Egypt - but ministers continue to
offer support to President Sisi's government while Ibrahim's ordeal continues.
The Foreign Secretary must urge Sisi to end these appalling abuses, and free
Ibrahim and the many like him."
(source: ekklesia.co.uk)
IRAN:
Women among protesters against death penalty
In the morning of Saturday, February 25, 2017, a number of human rights
defenders and families of death-row prisoners gathered outside the parliament
in Tehran and demanded that the death sentences be revoked.
The protesters were from Tehran, Charmahal-o Bakhtiari, West Azerbaijan,
Khuzistan, Isfahan and Qeshm. Women carried placards which read, "Execution =
disintegration of a family."
(source: NCR-Iran)
BAHRAIN:
UN experts urge Bahraini regime to stop new executions
2 United Nations human rights experts have appealed today to the Government of
Bahrain to spare the lives of Mohammad Ramadan and Hussein Moosa, who are at
risk of imminent execution, and to ensure a re-trial of the defendants in
compliance with international standards.
The 2 convicts, who had their death sentences confirmed in late 2015, were
allegedly tortured while in prison, coerced to confess their crime, and not
allowed to have proper legal assistance. They were condemned to death for
premeditated murder and attempted murder in the first instance by Bahrain's
Fourth High Superior Court. Their appeals were then upheld by the High Appeals
Court and the Court of Cassation.
"Under international law, there is an absolute prohibition of torture and
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," said the UN Special
Rapporteurs on summary executions, Agnes Callamard, and on torture, Nils
Melzer.
"The Bahraini authorities have the duty to investigate all allegations of human
rights violations committed during the proceedings, including torture by
security forces during interrogations," they emphasised.
The experts also expressed grave concern at the executions by firing squad on
15 January of Abbas al-Samea, Sami Mushaima, and Ali Abdulshaheed Yousef
al-Singace for a bombing in Manama on 2014, which had killed several people,
including 3 police officers.
According to allegations received by the experts, these executions were carried
out following proceedings in contravention to international standards. All
three men were reportedly coerced to confess under torture, including methods
such as electric shocks and sexual humiliation. They reportedly were also
denied access to adequate legal assistance.
"In countries that have not abolished the death penalty, capital punishment may
be imposed only following a trial that complied with the most stringent
guarantees of fair trial and due process," the UN Special Rapporteurs said.
"Any death sentence executed after a trial failing to meet these standards is
tantamount to an arbitrary execution."
One of the convicts, Ali Abdulshaheed Yousef al-Singace was under the age of 18
when he was arrested for his alleged crime. "The Convention on the Rights of
the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
ratified by Bahrain, expressly prohibit the death penalty for offences
committed by persons below 18 years of age???, the experts said.
"While the world is moving away from the death penalty, we greatly deplore the
Bahraini authorities' decision to resume executions," the experts stated,
recalling that the 3 men were the 1st convicts to be executed in Bahrain since
2010. "We urge Bahrain to establish an official moratorium on death penalty and
to consider its complete abolition."
(source: Ahlul Bayt News Agency)
BANGLADESH:
2 get death sentences in murder of Kishoreganj man
A court has sentenced 2 persons to death in the 2012 murder of local Awami
League font leader in Kishoreganj.
Md Alam Sabuj, general secretary of Upazila Unit of Juba League, went missing
on Aug 21 that year.
Juba League is the youth affiliate of the ruling party.
3 days later his wallet was found at a brickfield near a lake in Bazitpur
Upazila's Sarachar. After searching the lake, a sack was founding containing
body, cut in pieces.
The victim's family filed a case with the local police accusing 14 people.
Police pressed charges on 7 people in the case, which was later transferred the
speedy trial tribunal.
On Sunday, Dhaka's Fourth Speedy Trail Tribunal convicted 3 of the gruesome
killing.
Those awarded the death penalty are Enam Hossain and Una Mia.
The 3rd convict, Md Sadek has received 5 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Mia and Una were on the docks when the verdict was delivered while Hossain is
absconding.
The court acquitted 4 others as charges against them have not been proven.
The judge said in its verdict that Sabuj was killed in a local political feud.
Hossain and Mia were directly involved in the murder while Sadek concealed the
murder weapon.
Prosecutor Mahfuzur Rahman said the 3 convicts had confessed to the crime under
Section 164 before a magistrate.
Convict Mia's counsel Md Shahabuddin said the court recorded testimonies of 27
persons during the trial, but none of them were eyewitnesses.
***************************
High Court bench assigned to hear appeals, death references in 2012 Biswajit
murder
Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has assigned a High Court bench to hear the
death reference and the appeals over the murder of Old Dhaka tailor Biswajit
Das.
The bench of Justices Md Ruhul Quddus and Bhishmadeb Chatravarty is expected
hear the case, which has been included in the cause list for Sunday.
On Feb 19, Supreme Court officials said the paperbook was prepared for the
appeals and the death reference over the murder case.
Death sentences that trial courts issue are forwarded as death references to
the High Court (HC) for approval.
On Dec 9, 2012, Biswajit was hacked to death by activists of Bangladesh Chhatra
League near the Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka during a strike called by the
BNP-led 18-Party alliance.
The murder had put the ruling Awami League in a tight spot as all those accused
belonged to the party???s student affiliate, Bangladesh Chhatra League.
The local police started a case accusing 25 unknown people.
Opposition leaders had severely criticised the ruling party for accusing
unidentified people even after newspapers and TV channels carried reports with
photos and visuals of those who attacked Biswajit.
In December 2013, a Dhaka court convicted 21 persons, all of them Chhatra
League activists, in the killing. 8 persons were awarded the death penalty
while 13 others got life imprisonment.
*********************************
Habiganj court awards death penalty to 3 for murdering minor siblings
A Habiganj court has convicted 3 persons of the 2008 murder of 2 minor
siblings.
In August 2008, 12-year-old Abdul Ahad and 10-year-old Nuraj Ali was found dead
with their throats slit at a village in the northeastern district's Bahubal
Upazila.
Their father started murder case against 3 persons.
On Sunday, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Mafroza Parvin
ordered death sentences for the 3.
They are Abdul Ali, Sayed Ali and Arzu Mia.
Of them, Ali was on the dock when the verdict was announced while the others
are absconding, said Prosecutor Abdul Ahad Faruq.
He said convict Ali confessed to the court of the killing out previous enmity
with the boys' father.
(source for all: bdnews24.com)
PHILIPPINES:
Death bill nears birth
Capital punishment in the Philippines will soon see a re-imposition, or call it
a rebirth, as the House of Representatives majority party seems bent on using
its might to make it happen.
2 legislators who spoke in Cebu over the weekend said the measure re-imposing
the death penalty is sure to pass in the House in about 2 weeks. Akbayan
Representative Tomasito Villarin, who visited Cebu last Friday, and Cebu City
Rep. Raul del Mar (1st district) said the supermajority in the House will use
its influence over members to have it passed. The 2 belong to the opposition
party.
Villarin said House members were told they risked their committee memberships
if they did not support the administration's agenda. Villarin was in Cebu to
launch a signature campaign against the proposed revival of the death penalty
and the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9
years old.
Del Mar said he gives the House 2 weeks to approve the bill because those
aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte are the majority and "they are already
prepared."
"Now I see it in place," del Mar said of the majority's moves to ensure quorum,
fast-track deliberations by setting interpolation limits.
"You can see the signals that they are there to make things happen." Del Mar
spoke Friday before the Philippine Association of Retired Persons national
executive board to "give a perspective" on where the House stands on issues.
The death penalty was abolished in 2006 under President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo. The Catholic Church insisted on it because to kill a person,
even a convicted criminal, goes against its teachings, it said.
The revival of capital punishment is being pushed now under Duterte to serve as
a deterrent to heinous crimes.
Under the bill, the number of heinous crimes was reduced from 21 to only 5. The
crime of plunder was removed from the list of those punishable by death.
This is the type of rebirth capital punishment would have once it is approved
by the House. In addition, death does not become a mandatory penalty as it gets
included in a range of penalties from life imprisonment to capital punishment.
The Senate is expected to act on a counterpart measure but several senators
have started voicing their opposition.
Villarin said he and others in the House opposition could face political
harassment to silence them. He cited the recent arrest of Sen. Leila de Lima on
drug charges as an example. Del Mar said he hopes House members will vote on
the death penalty bill according to their principles, their conscience.
There are those in favor of restoring capital punishment and there are those
who are convinced to vote yes because of their affiliation with Duterte.
"Do not look upon them with disfavor," he said, as they have reasons for their
vote.
One thing is sure. This is a rebirth that will not be celebrated on the
streets.
(source: Opinion, Nini Cabaero; sunstar.com.ph)
********************
No more additions to crimes punishable by death - solons
Any attempt to insert additional criminal acts to the 4 heinous crimes already
listed in the death penalty menu will be blocked when the House of
Representatives votes on the measure possibly on Tuesday.
This assurance was made yesterday by House Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro,
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, and House
Assistant Minority Leader and ABS party-list Rep. Eugene de Vera as House Bill
4727 enters the stage where personal and committee amendments may be proposed.
The House leadership ended last Wednesday plenary debates on HB 4727 which
seeks to restore the death penalty in the country's criminal justice system.
Several pro-death penalty lawmakers have been pushing for the inclusion of at
least 21 crimes as punishable with death but the House supermajority voted to
reduce the number to just 4 - rape, plunder, treason, and drug related cases.
Castro admitted that there is still likelihood that additional criminal
offenses will be proposed for inclusion when the amendments proceedings start.
"But we will stand by what the majority agreed upon during the caucus. These
proposed amendments will be turned down," said Castro.
Farinas and De Vera agreed that the probability of putting more death penalty
crimes to the list already approved by majority of the lawmakers is "very low"
if not "zero."
"Low probability since the decision to have the 4 offenses only was lengthily
debated and overwhelmingly agreed upon during our majority caucus," Farinas
said.
De Vera said the public may expect amendments to be limited to "style,
typographical errors, and form."
(source: tempo.com.ph)
INDONESIA:
Court schedules deposition of Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia - lawyers
The Nueva Ecija trial court hearing the trafficking case against the couple who
recruited Mary Jane Veloso has scheduled the deposition of the Filipina in
death row in Indonesia, her lawyers said Saturday.
The National Union of People's Lawyers, which is helping prosecute Maria
Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao and also in efforts to convince Indonesia
to take Veloso off death row, said Judge Anaarica Castillo-Reyes of Sto.
Domingo Regional Trial Court Branch 88, who took over the trial after the
inhibition of the original judge, had scheduled the taking of Mary Jane's
testimony on April 27 at the Yogyakarta prison where she is detained.
"During the scheduled deposition, Mary Jane will answer the exhaustive written
questions prepared by her Filipino private lawyers which will be directly
propounded to her by a Philippine consul with the facilitation and cooperation
of Indonesian authorities," the NUPL said.
The human rights lawyers' group noted that "the deposition will be taken at
almost the exact date 2 years ago when Mary Jane was magnanimously granted by
the Indonesian government a last-minute standing reprieve from the death
penalty after furious and intense efforts and overwhelming clamor to save her
life."
Veloso was intercepted as she arrived in Jakarta in April 2010 with 2.6 kilos
of heroin in her luggage and subsequently sentenced to death later that year.
Spared by a moratorium on executions by fomer President Susilo Bambang
Yudhiyono, she was scheduled for execution in January 2015 after the election
of President Joko Widodo but earned the last-minute reprieve, in part due to
the fierce lobby of Indonesian workers' rights advocates.
Veloso maintains her innocence saying she was duped by Sergio and Lacanilao and
a member of a foreign human trafficking ring into carrying the luggage
containing the drugs.
The NUPL said Castillo-Reyes' order allowing Veloso "to freely tell her whole
story and cruel ordeal which will be officially considered by the ... trial
court" was "another legal vindication" for the worker and her family.
"Being the victim, Mary Jane is the most credible and competent witness that
could prove not only the guilt of the accused in these Philippine cases but,
eventually and more importantly, the full and unabbreviated circumstances that
led to her conviction in Indonesia," the group said.
(source: interaksyon.com)
TURKEY:
Turkey May Hold Referendum on Death Penalty Reinstatement: Erdogan
Turkey may seek to reinstate death penalty as there is public demand for it,
country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.
He added that the government has been seeking to bring back capital punishment
since the July 2015 coup attempt, Sputnik reported.
"The [public] demand for reinstatement of capital punishment will be brought to
Parliament. I wish that the moment it is passed by Parliament, I could approve
it. But there is a problem, it requires a constitutional amendment. The 16th of
the month [April] will be an answer to this. If necessary, we can hold a new
referendum on this [reintroduction of capital punishment]," Erdogan said, as
quoted by the Turkish Minute media outlet.
The death penalty was banned in Turkey in 2004 as part of Turkey's attempt to
be closer to the European Union. However, after a July attempted coup in
Turkey, voices requesting the reinstatement of the death penalty have been on
the rise.
(source: Tasnim News Agency)
NIGERIA:
27-Yr-Old Sentenced to Death for Killing Human Rights Lawyer
An Ikeja High Court yesterday sentenced 27-year-old Oluwaseun Oladapo, to death
by hanging for murdering a Lagos based human rights lawyer, Mr Kunle Fadipe and
his mother-in-law, Mrs Cecilia Owolabi.
In her judgement, justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye found Oladapo guilty on a 5-count
charge of murder, armed robbery and assault occasioning harm pressed against
him by the state.
Handing down her sentence, Justice said: "On count one, you Oluwaseun Oladapo,
is to be hung by the neck till you are dead.
"On count 3, you Oluwaseun Oladapo, is to be hung by the neck till you are
dead.
"On count 4, you Oluwaseun Oladapo is sentenced to 3 years in prison.
"On count 5, you Oluwaseun Oladapo is sentenced to 3 years in prison.
"The terms of imprisonment of counts 3, 4 and 5 is that they should run
concurrently. This is the judgment of the court."
Earlier before the sentence was passed, counsel to the convict, Mr Worer
Obuagbaka pleaded for mercy on behalf of the convict.
"I ask this honourable court to give him a second chance, he is a young man who
is still useful to society, I urge this honourable court to please temper
justice with mercy," Obuagbaka said.
Responding, prosecuting counsel, Mrs O.A Olugasa said: "The deceased was not
given a 2nd chance, his children were not given a 2nd chance to have their
father with them.
"I urge the court to give the harshest punishment to the convict so that
justice can be seen to be done."
Oladapo, allegedly murdered the lawyer at 3am on July 4, 2014 at his residence
located at No. 1 Harmony Estate, Ifako-Ijaiye, Iju, Lagos.
The prosecution was led by Mr Adeniji Kazeem, the Lagos State Attorney General
and Commissioner for Justice and Mrs Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP).
Oladapo, was also charged with the murder of Mrs Cecelia Owolabi, the
mother-in-law to the late Fadipe, but the charge of murder was commuted to
assault occasioning harm by the court.
Explaining the reason for why the murder charge of Owolabi was rejected,
Justice Ipaye said: "The prosecution did not prove a direct link between the
actions of the defendant and the death of Madam Cecelia Owolabi.
"He is however, found guilty of the assault occasioning harm of Madam Cecelia
Owolabi."
During the trial, the wife of the late lawyer, Mrs Kemi Fadipe, in her
testimony gave a graphic details of how the lawyer was murdered.
Kemi, a school proprietress said: "My husband came in late from the office at
10pm and he was preparing for a flight to Abuja the following day, we both had
retired to our bedroom.
"Our home is a five - bedroom duplex and there was no electricity that night,
the home was well lit because the generator was on.
"At 11.45pm, power was restored and my son Folahanmi went to put off the
generator, a few minutes after he left, he came running upstairs screaming for
help.
"He had a stab wound on his head and was being pursued by the defendant who was
armed with a knife.
"The commotion alerted my husband and I rushed to the anti-room upstairs where
we saw the defendant and Folahanmi.
"The defendant was saying that someone had to die today and demanded N500,000,
threatening us that members of his gang had surrounded the house.
"We knelt down to plead with him and my husband instructed me to get a white
envelope containing cash from the jacket of his suit.
"When the envelope was handed over to the defendant, he was dissatisfied and
demanded for laptops and phones and we told him those items were downstairs.
"He for no reason, lunged at Folahanmi with a knife and my husband stepped in
to save him and he was stabbed in his neck and his chest."
Kemi said after her husband was stabbed, Oladapo ran downstairs where he
unfortunately encountered her mother.
"My mother came out from her bedroom downstairs to investigate the source of
the commotion and the defendant ran into her, stabbing her in the chest."
"I, the maid and my sister struggled with him in the living room downstairs, he
was hit on the head with a stabiliser but he was behaving in a wild and crazed
manner and very strong and hard to subdue.
"My husband and Folahanmi ran out to get help but my husband collapsed in the
premises.
" Folahanmi got help from the security guard of the estate who subdued the
defendant by shooting him with a gun."
She said that Fadipe was rushed to a hospital where he gave up the ghost at
4am, her mother who came to Lagos from Ibadan for an eye operation was
discharged from the hospital but died in Ibadan from the shock and trauma of
the incident 2 weeks later.
"My son Folahanmi, a student of one of the tertiary institutions in the
country, lost a year of school due to the trauma of the head and chest injuries
he sustained during the attack," Kemi said.
Miss Biola Owolabi, the sister-in-law to the late lawyer in her testimony
during the trial attested to the strength of Oladapo.
"He scaled the fence of the house and lay in wait at the generator house where
he threatened and attacked Folahanmi whom had come to put off the generator.
"It was difficult to subdue him after during the frenzied attack, he was like a
man possessed, he had the strength of 10 men, everyone sustained injuries" she
said.
A pathologist, Dr Sunday Soyemi in his testimony, revealed the cause of
Fadipe's death.
"The cause of death was rapid and severe blood loss caused by the severe nice
of the left jugular vein," Soyemi said.
Mr Bamidele Sanni, a security guard at the Harmony Estate had testified during
the trial that he shot Oladapo on the leg to incapacitate him.
"When I got to the Fadipe home, the defendant was still difficult to subdue, I
shot him in the leg to incapacitate him and I put a call to the police at the
Iju Police Station.
However, Oladapo, while testifying in yoruba in his defence, denied committing
the offence.
According to him, on the night of the murder, he left a viewing centre to go to
his home and he had to take a shortcut via Harmony Estate.
"When I got to the Harmony Estate, an altercation occurred between me the
security guard and four men, they beat me up, subdued me and shot at my leg.
"I fainted and woke up the hospital, I fainted again and woke up 4 days later
at the police station," he said.
(source: allafrica.com)
*****************************
In Epe: 3 teenage boys at risk of getting death sentence following murder,
robbery charges
The accused reportedly stolen a phone worth N37,250 from their victim before
shooting him dead.
3 teenage boys accused of robbing and killing a man, Nurudeen Sanni in Epe area
of Lagos state are at risk of getting the death penalty for their crimes.
The youngsters, who are part of a 5-man gang are now facing a 4-count charge
bordering on conspiracy, stealing and murder, the Daily Post reports.
Chinalu Nwadione, the police prosecutor on the case disclosed that the accused
committed the offence on Sunday, December 18, 2016.
The group, Tosin Olabisi, 19; Jimoh Obrahim, 19; Rasheed Odumade, 19; Sheriff
Agbomeji, 20; and Rasaki Ayinde, 40, reportedly dispossessed the victim of the
sum of his phone valued at N37, 250 before shooting him in the forehead.
These offences contravened Sections 222, 233 and 297 of the Criminal Law of
Lagos State, 2011.
Chief magistrate Oluyemisi in her ruling on the matter insisted that the
accused be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons pending further investigations.
(source; nigeriatoday.ng)
GLOBAL:
Which countries impose death penalty for corruption?----In some countries like
China and North Korea, public officials have been executed or may face death
for corruption and other related crimes like bribery
The death penalty has claimed thousands of lives worldwide, with over 1,600
executions in 2015, excluding China. Based on the latest data of Amnesty
International, this is 54% higher compared to 2014.
In the Philippines, the current 17th Congress is tackling the reinstatement of
the death penalty after it was abolished in 2006. The debates also included
whether or not to add plunder to the list of crimes punishable by death.
Meanwhile, in some countries, capital punishment is not limited to people
committing heinous crimes. Public officials have also been executed or may face
death for corruption and other related crimes like bribery. Which countries are
these?
China
China is in the top 3 countries that have been carrying out executions as of
2015, alongside Iran and Pakistan. These executions, however, are considered
top secret, making it difficult to count the deaths. Prisoners reportedly do
not linger on death row but are executed immediately or given a two-year
suspension of sentence.
The Chinese government executes people for economic and political crimes.
Officials who take part in drug smuggling, human trafficking, and the diversion
of state-controlled drugs for illegal sale are also punished by death.
In 2011, China sentenced to capital punishment Xu Maiyong, former vice mayor of
Hangzhou City, and Jiang Renjie, vice mayor of Suzhou City in 2011. The
officials were found guilty of bribery amounting to $50 million.
Xu reportedly led an excessive lifestyle. Investigators were said to find gold
bullion and expensive jewelry upon inspection of his home.
In 2010, the Chongqing Justice Bureau director was also killed over bribery and
for supporting organized crime. In 2008, a city official of Chengdu was
executed over bribery, too.
The former chief of the state's food and drug administration was likewise found
guilty of accepting bribes, and met the same fate in 2007.
North Korea
Like China, North Korea is also very secretive about its imposition of the
death penalty. Reports said this secrecy increased when Kim Jong-un assumed the
country's leadership.
It is difficult to confirm available reports because the country does not
normally announce its executions. The international media usually depend on
South Korean sources.
The most controversial execution in North Korea so far is that of Kim's Uncle
Chang Song-thaek in 2013. Chang held senior posts in the ruling party and was
the vice chairman of the National Defense Commission.
State media reports said he was accused of corruption - he transferred
construction units to his contacts, attempted to overthrow the state, and
mobilized a coup, among others.
North Korea also reportedly put to death General Pyon In Son, ex-chief of
operations in the Korean People???s Army. South Korean sources said he was
executed in 2015, 2 months after he was fired from his position over
"corruption and failure to follow orders."
Also in 2015, around 50 officials were said to have been killed over charges
ranging from corruption to "watching South Korean soap operas."
O Sang-hon, deputy minister for public security, and Chang Ung, a member of the
International Olympic Committee, were killed in 2014 over corruption charges.
Iraq
The death of Ali Hassan al-Majid or "Chemical Ali" in Iraq in 2010 was the most
infamous execution in the country. He was convicted for crimes against
humanity, including the poison gas attack in the Kurdish region in 1988.
At the time of the United Nations' sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s, he held many
senior government posts and reportedly used his clout for smuggling and
business deals. His "blatant corruption" was speculated on as the reason behind
his removal as defense minister in 1995.
Iran
There are no widely-reported executions of public officials in Iran due to its
strict policy on secrecy. But under their law, offenses such as counterfeiting,
smuggling, speculating, or disrupting production by officials are punishable by
death.
Nonetheless, thousands were said to have been executed in Iran since Hassan
Rouhani became president in 2013, according to Iran Human Rights.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, some acts of corruption, which affect the finance or economy of
the country in a big way, is punishable by death.
Indonesia resumed executions in 2013, ending the 5-year unofficial freeze of
the penalty since 2008. According to Amnesty International, around 130 people
are said to be on death row in Indonesia as of 2012.
Thailand
Thailand executes a government official, democratic representative, judicial
official, or prosecutor for demanding or accepting bribes, although apparently,
no one has been executed for such crime.
In July 2015, lawmakers amended the Anti-Corruption Act to extend capital
punishment to foreign officials and staff of international organizations who
commit bribery.
Laos
Citizens, including public officials, who disrupt the trade, agriculture, or
other economic activities with the intention of damaging the economy of the
state can be put to death.
Vietnam
Embezzlement is punishable by death in Vietnam, provided, however, that the
amount appropriated is 5 hundred million dong or more, or if it had
"particularly serious" consequences. Bribery amounting to 3 hundred million
dong or more is also subject to the penalty.
Officials who commit illegal cross-border trading of highly-valued objects and
"particularly serious" cases of manufacturing, storing, transporting, or
circulating counterfeit money, treasury bills, or bonds can also meet the same
end.
Myanmar
In Myanmar, committing drug offenses by taking advantage of the influence or
power of a public servant is punishable by death.
Morocco
Bribery, especially to lead a judge or jury member to declare a death sentence,
is subject to capital punishment. Reports, however, show that the last
execution in Morocco was way back in 1993.
The man was Mohamed Tabet, a chief police commissioner who was convicted for
multiple counts of "indecent assault, rape violence, rape and abduction", and
"barbaric acts and incitement to riot."
(source: rappler.com)
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