Indonesia executes four drug convicts; Indian not among them

Jakarta, July 29 (IANS) Indonesia on Friday executed four drug convicts including three Africans, officials said. Indian convict Gurdip Singh, who was convicted along with 13 others, was not among them, according to media reports.

Muhammad Rum, spokesman for Indonesia's attorney general, told reporters outside the Nusakambangan prison that authorities have not decided when 10 other prisoners will be executed by firing squad, CNN reported.

Two Nigerians, one Senegalese and one Indonesian were executed. Petitions to review their cases had been denied.

One of the Nigerians was Humphrey Jefferson Ejike, who was unjustly killed, according to his legal team.

"At this stage, we can only say that we are extremely disappointed with the fact that Jeff was executed," said Raynov Tumorang by text message. "The government does not respect the ongoing legal process on Jeff's case.

"There is strong evidence of torture and he was not given a fair trial. Racism towards our client can be seen in the court decision."

India was in touch with the Indonesian leadership to get clemency for Gurdip Singh.

Indian embassy officials in Jakarta were trying to ensure that all legal recourse is exhausted before the death penalty is carried out against Singh.

"Afdhal Muhammad, the legal representative of Gurdip Singh was of the view that he can file for presidential clemency under the relevant law before the President of the Republic of Indonesia," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday.

"The embassy sent a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia requesting that all legal recourse should be exhausted before the death penalty is carried out," he said.

Singh was arrested on August 29, 2004, at the Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta on charges of drug trafficking, for attempting to carry 300 grams of heroin.

The Tangerang Court awarded him capital punishment in February 2005 against the prosecutors' request for 20 years imprisonment.

Swarup said that Singh's appeal against the death penalty was turned down by the High Court of Banten in May 2005.

Pakistan was also in touch with top officials in Indonesia to halt the imminent execution of Pakistani national Zulfiqar Ali for drug smuggling.