Indonesia to file mercy for death penalty citizens in Malaysia

Indonesia will establish a team to file mercy for its three citizens who are facing death penalty in Malaysia, a minister said here on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters after a parliamentary hearing that the three defendants were through a complete legal process out of 177 Indonesians who are threatened by death penalty.

"However, there is a room for a process to file mercy. We have been ordered by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to form an integrated team to discuss this matter and to make mercy efforts for them," he said.

According to Natalegawa, data from his office shows that the 177 Indonesians are involved in various law violations.

"As many as 142 are involved in drug cases while 35 others in non-drug cases," he said.

He added that out of the 177 people, eight of them were sentenced to jail penalty, 52 people sentenced by death penalty in the first level court and five were sentenced with death penalty in higher court.

"They still have an opportunity for appeal and cassation," he said.

Source:Xinhua