Even as Indonesia prepares to executive nine people for drug trafficking cases, its judiciary has once again shown leniency in the case of a man from Hong Kong, Lai Chung Shieu, who was caught with 91 kg of methamphetamines in Jakarta in April 2014.
“We’ve received a copy of the appeal decision. The verdict is life imprisonment,” said Aji Susanto, prosecutor for the High Court of Jakarta, as quoted by Detik.
Lai was first sentenced to life imprisonment for drug smuggling by the High Court of Jakarta in January 2015, despite the prosecution urging that the Hong Kong citizen was part of a drug syndicate and should be put to death.
The prosecution appealed that decision but today it was revealed that the courts once again upheld the sentence of life imprisonment. Aji said the prosecution would appeal once again.
Lai was caught with 91 kg of methamphetamines at Mangga Dua Square shopping center in April 2014. Judges did not explain what the mitigating circumstances were that caused them to sentence Lai with life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.
Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino citizen scheduled for execution later today or early tomorrow, was caught smuggling 2.6 kilos of heroin.
We wonder, what could the difference be in these cases that would cause the judges to offer mercy to Lai when Veloso, who was caught with a far smaller amount of narcotics, is about to be put to death?
