8 drug-smugglers executed in Indonesia, woman pardoned
30-year old Mary Jane Veloso was sentenced to death in 2010 after being caught smuggling 2.6kg heroin into Indonesia. She was spared after calls from Philippine to Indonesia requesting her pardon so that she could stand as witness in the case. 12 marksmen were positioned to shoot at the heart of prisoners; 2 of whom were the ring-leaders of Bali Nine.
Bali Nine is a group of nine Australians who were convicted of smuggling 18 pounds of heroin to Australia from Indonesia. The trial was held at Bali.
Relations between Indonesia and Australia were set to turn ugly after reports that the Bali Nine may be sentenced to face the firing squad. Australian Federal Police was facing heat over its role in helping Indonesia catch the smugglers. 4 suspects were caught from Densapar airport, while they were ready to fly to Australia with heroin strapped around their body.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were sentenced to death after being identified as leaders of Bali Nine group and had filed an appeal against their execution. Other seven members had been given life imprisonment. They were to be informed many days in advance and would be allowed to make final calls to family. The final time and place of their execution was not disclosed.
Indonesia constitutional court rejected the petition of Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran and Scott Rush and approved the death penalty for drug offenders. The court announced the verdict by a 6 to 3 majority among the judges. Court said that while looking at these cases, the impact on drug victims must also be taken into account apart from the criminals themselves.
All living Ex Australia PMs appealed to Indonesia to spare the lives of the 2 ring leaders of Bali Nine, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Indonesia ended a 4 year embargo on executions in 2013. Death penalty is banned in Australia.
Massive support for Mary Jane Veloso's pardon throughout the social media. Hours before the execution, #MaryJane was the second trending hashtag in Indonesia. A single mother of two, she was arrested at the Yogyakarta airport and sentenced to death in 2010. She came to Indonesia on the pretext of getting a job as a maid.
