Despite official requests from the President of Brazil, Indonesia has announced plans to execute Brazilian drug trafficker, Marco Archer, “very soon”.
A key character in the bestselling book, “Snowing In Bali”, Marco Archer, 53, was imprisoned in 2003 after attempting to enter Jakarta with 13.4kg of cocaine hidden in the tubes of his hang glider.
Archer’s final plea for clemency was rejected on December 31st by Joko Widodo. His first rejection came in 2006.
“We have met every legal criteria to execute him,” said Tony Spontana, spokesman for Indonesia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, on Thursday.
“He is one of the next in the list to be executed – and I can guarantee that the plan is to execute him very soon.”
Also on a priority list for executions is Bali Nine’s Myuran Sukumaran, whose final clemency appeal was rejected last Wednesday.
The Indonesian Attorney General’s Office reported on Friday that they have a list of 20 death row inmates slated for priority execution, but it did not confirm that Sukumaran’s name is on the list.
However the head of Denpasar’s District Prosecutor’s Office told media that inmates are usually executed 2-3 months after their final appeal is rejected and generally no longer than six months.
In Marco Archer’s case however, he has spent over 10 years in prison, both in Bali and later in Java, while waiting execution.
Joko Widodo’s tough stance on drug criminals will be tested as Archer’s slated execution will be the first Westerner’s to be carried out. Between 2000 and 2004, 27 people were executed, most of those Indonesian citizens.
Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff’s cabinet is assessing if there are any additional actions that can be taken to intercede on behalf of the Brazilian, as there are no further legal impediments to the sentence being carried out.
In Australia, Tony Abbott’s government is also making urgent representations on behalf of the Bali Nine member, however the Prime Minister has been cautioned that it would be foolish to jeopardise the relationship with their closest neighbor.
Executions planned for December, as many as five or six prisoners, would go ahead before the end of January said a spokesman for the Indonesian Attorney General. It is not confirmed who is on that list.
Indonesia announces plans to execute first WesternerÂ* | Latest News From Bali | The Beat Daily
I have read the book Snowing in Bali that he is a main character in. A good read.
Seemed like he had a good life while he was free.
I wonder as he hears this news, I would love to know if he thought it was all worth it or not.
