Note verbale sent to save Indian in Indonesia

India has issued a “note verbale” to Indonesia, asking Jakarta not to execute Indian death-row convict Gurdip Singh till all his legal recourse has been exhausted. Singh is one of the 14 convicts from various countries who are to be executed by Indonesia soon for allegedly drug crimes, possibly even by Thursday night.

“We are making last-minute efforts to save him from execution on 28 July,” external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

Singh was arrested on August 29, 2004, at the Soekarno Hatta airport on charges of drug trafficking, for attempting to carry 300 gms of heroin. The Tangerang court awarded him capital punishment in February 2005, against the prosecutor’s 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 (Indonesian) Supreme Court, which also upheld his death penalty. He is presently detained at Nusakambangan Pasir Putih, Cilacap.

“Afdhal Muhammad, the legal representative of Singh was of the view that he can file for presidential clemency under the relevant law. The embassy sent a note verbale to the Indonesia’s foreign ministry requesting that all legal recourse should be exhausted before the death penalty is carried out,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

“As we speak, our embassy consular officials are camping in Cilacap and have met Mr Gurdip Singh,” said Mr Swarup, adding that the officials are also in constant touch with Singh’s wife and brother in India and keeping them informed of the current situation. Singh reportedly hails from Jalandhar in Punjab.