Appeals fall on deaf ears, Indonesia executes Gurdip

LAST CALL TO WIFE

CILACAP ( INDONESIA)/JALANDHAR: Gurdip Singh was among 14 drug convicts executed by the Indonesian government on Thursday, rebuffing appeals from the Indian government and UN human rights chief to suspend the death penalty.

The execution was confirmed by Gurdip’s family that received a call from an Indian embassy official in Indonesia.

“An Indian embassy official who identified himself as Sunil Kumar Aggarwal told us about the execution,” Gurdip’s sister Binder told HT over phone from Nakodar.

Three Indonesian TV networks also said the executions occurred not long after midnight local time.. The government has not yet made an announcement.

Singh, 48, was found guilty of trying to smuggle 300 grams of heroin into Indonesia in 2004 and was sentenced to death by the state district court at Tanggerang in Banten province in February 2005.

He was sentenced to death along with a Brazilian even though prosecutors had recommended a 20-year jail term for Gurdip. Relatives, rights groups and foreign governments had urged Indonesia to spare the lives of the 14.

On Wednesday, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said the government was making last minute efforts to save Singh from execution.

“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.