Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 20, 2006 15:29:46 GMT -5
New evidence could help death row Nigerian
Lawyers of a Nigerian convicted in a heroin case say they have new
evidence they believe might release their client from death row.
Todung Mulya Lubis said the legal team would present witnesses
corroborating a statement made by a dead inmate who allegedly confessed to
framing their client, Humphery Jefferson Ejike Eleweke, alias Doctor.
He said the team had filed an appeal with the Supreme Court for a case
review.
The lawyers will bring 6 new witnesses, 2 from Cipinang Penitentiary,
where Humphery is serving time, and 4 others who allegedly knew about the
framing, to a hearing on Oct. 5 at the Central Jakarta District Court.
Humphery was sentenced to death in 2003 for possession of 1.7 kilograms of
heroin, found in a room of the Central Jakarta restaurant he owned.
The lawyers said they had been informed that the room had been lived in by
Ifanyi, a man who had worked at the restaurant and who is still wanted by
police for questioning.
The lawyers say their new witnesses told them that Ifanyi was connected to
Nigerian drug dealer Charles "Kelly" Kanu, who was sentence to Cipinang
Prison in 2002. They claim Kelly had a personal grudge against Humphery,
who took over the management of his restaurant after Kelly's arrest and
banned drugs from it.
Kelly, who had AIDS and died in 2004, is said to have repeatedly asked
Humphery for forgiveness.
Kandaru Simorangke, also a member of Lubis' legal team, added that there
had been procedural irregularities when Lubis was arrested.
"There was no warrant, they had no orders from their superior officers and
they let Ifanyi go," he said.
Kandaru said just 3 police officers were summoned to testify at the trial.
Todung said that he believed that racial stereotyping had played a role in
the investigation.
"There seems to be a prejudice that Nigerians are always connected to
drugs."
Jakarta Police drug squad narcotics head Sr. Comr. Hendra Joni, who lead
the 2003 bust, said prejudices had not influenced the investigation.
"We had the warrant to search the restaurant ... The room (where the
heroin was found) belonged to Humphery," he said.
(source: The Jakarta Post)
Lawyers of a Nigerian convicted in a heroin case say they have new
evidence they believe might release their client from death row.
Todung Mulya Lubis said the legal team would present witnesses
corroborating a statement made by a dead inmate who allegedly confessed to
framing their client, Humphery Jefferson Ejike Eleweke, alias Doctor.
He said the team had filed an appeal with the Supreme Court for a case
review.
The lawyers will bring 6 new witnesses, 2 from Cipinang Penitentiary,
where Humphery is serving time, and 4 others who allegedly knew about the
framing, to a hearing on Oct. 5 at the Central Jakarta District Court.
Humphery was sentenced to death in 2003 for possession of 1.7 kilograms of
heroin, found in a room of the Central Jakarta restaurant he owned.
The lawyers said they had been informed that the room had been lived in by
Ifanyi, a man who had worked at the restaurant and who is still wanted by
police for questioning.
The lawyers say their new witnesses told them that Ifanyi was connected to
Nigerian drug dealer Charles "Kelly" Kanu, who was sentence to Cipinang
Prison in 2002. They claim Kelly had a personal grudge against Humphery,
who took over the management of his restaurant after Kelly's arrest and
banned drugs from it.
Kelly, who had AIDS and died in 2004, is said to have repeatedly asked
Humphery for forgiveness.
Kandaru Simorangke, also a member of Lubis' legal team, added that there
had been procedural irregularities when Lubis was arrested.
"There was no warrant, they had no orders from their superior officers and
they let Ifanyi go," he said.
Kandaru said just 3 police officers were summoned to testify at the trial.
Todung said that he believed that racial stereotyping had played a role in
the investigation.
"There seems to be a prejudice that Nigerians are always connected to
drugs."
Jakarta Police drug squad narcotics head Sr. Comr. Hendra Joni, who lead
the 2003 bust, said prejudices had not influenced the investigation.
"We had the warrant to search the restaurant ... The room (where the
heroin was found) belonged to Humphery," he said.
(source: The Jakarta Post)