Jakarta. Convicted drug smuggler Merry Utami was moved from the Tangerang Women's Prison in Banten to Nusakambangan Island in Cilacap, Central Java, on Sunday morning (24/07), pointing to the likelihood that her execution may be imminent.
"According to reports I received, she was moved to an isolation cell at Besi Prison on Nusakambangan Island for some introduction," said Abdul Aris, coordinator for prisons in the Cilacap area, as reported by Antara news agency.
He was unable to explain, however, why the death-row inmate was moved to the notorious prison island, where executions are routinely carried out.
Merry was transported from Tangerang at around 4.30 a.m., escorted by members of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob).
The Tangerang District Court sentenced Merry to death in 2003 after she was arrested with 1.1 kilograms of heroin at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport outside Jakarta.
It has been an open secret that death-row inmates are moved to Nusakambangan Island to be held in isolation at Besi Prison before execution. After they arrive, inmates usually receive guidance from religious leaders for a few days while the government fulfils their last wishes before executing them by firing squad.
The Indonesian government plans to execute 18 drug convicts this year, and 30 more in 2017, Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo said last month. The third round of executions is scheduled to take place on the island, but Prasetyo has yet to announce the exact date.
Indonesia executed 14 convicts last year, including citizens of Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands and Nigeria, despite repeated pleas for mercy from foreign governments, international organizations and activists.
Only Mary Jane Veloso of the Philippines received a last-minute reprieve last year, following a request from Manila after an employment recruiter, whom Veloso had accused of planting drugs in her luggage, gave herself up to police. Veloso will not be included in this year's executions.
Source: Jakarta Globe, July 24, 2016
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