Gurdip’s life spared, for now

Indonesia has for now spared Indian convict Gurdip Singh from death after New Delhi’s appeal. Gurdip, who was due to be executed Thursday night, was convicted by an Indonesian court of trying to smuggle in 300 grams of heroin and awarded the death penalty in 2005.

Seeking mercy, his wife Kulwinder Kaur said he had been jailed 14 years, that was enough punishment for his crime if he was guilty, and he should be sent back. “I spoke to him twice this morning and he said he was fine. His execution was dropped at the last minute after four others were put to death by firing squad,” Kaur said in Jalandhar.

Sources at the ministry of external affairs said hectic diplomatic efforts were being made to save Gurdip from execution. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted Friday morning: “The Indian Ambassador in Indonesia informed me that Gurdip Singh whose execution was fixed for last night, has not been executed.”

Out of 14 convicts from various countries who were to have been executed, four have been executed by firing squad, according to news agency reports. 48-year-old Singh was among the other 10 convicts who were to be executed but were not put to death.

Appealing to the Indonesian government for mercy, his wife Kulwinder Kaur said he has spent 14 years in jail which was enough penance for his crime if he was guilty and he should be sent back. “I spoke to him twice this morning and he said he is fine. His execution was dropped at the last minute after four others were put to death by the firing squad,” Kaur was quoted by news agencies as saying in Jalandhar.

MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had on Thursday said that Indian Embassy officials in Jakarta were reaching out to the Indonesian foreign office and the senior leadership of the country on the issue. Swaraj had said the Indian government was making all efforts to save Singh.

“Afdhal Muhammad, the legal representative of Singh was of the view that he can file for Presidential clemency under the relevant law before the President of Indonesia. The Embassy sent a Note Verbale to Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry requesting that all legal recourse should be exhausted before the death penalty is carried out,” Swarup had said on Thursday.

Gurdip Singh was arrested on August 29, 2004, at the Soekarno Hatta Airport on charges of drug trafficking. The Tangerang Court awarded him capital punishment in February 2005, against the prosecutors’ request for 20 years imprisonment. His appeal against the death penalty was turned down by the High Court of Banten in May, 2005. He then appealed to the Supreme Court which also upheld his death penalty. He is presently detained at Nusakambangan Pasir Putih, Cilacap.