Proposed death law changes may aid Bali Nine members

The draft of a new Indonesian criminal code being considered by the country's President includes amendments under which the death penalty could be avoided.

The latest draft of Indonesia's new criminal code grants a faint new hope to the six of the Bali Nine heroin smuggling ring now facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

Under the proposed changes, those sentenced to death would receive 10 years' grace after which good behaviour would be rewarded by commuting the condemned's death sentence to life in prison.

The draft law has been considered by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the past seven months and even if approved, a separate act of Parliament would be needed for the changes to operate retrospectively.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 10 Feb 2007
Source: Australian Broadcasting Commission (Australia -Web)
Reporter: Geoff Thompson
Website: http://www.abc.net.au