Indian facing death in Indonesia may not be pardoned

Bogor: An Indian national facing death sentence in Indonesia on drug smuggling charges may not be pardoned, President Joko Widodo has indicated, saying the capital penalty is handed down only to individuals who have carried out serious crimes and is not based on nationality.

Ahead of his state visit to India, Mr Widodo said, “My duty as President is to uphold the law and Indonesia’s sovereignty. This will be applied in all cases, including those involving capital punishment”. Asked if he would pardon Indian national Gurdeep Singh, who is facing death sentence in Indonesia on drug charges since 2004, the President said, “The death penalty is imposed only on individuals who have carried out serious crimes, and is not based on nationality.”

Mr Singh, 48, was arrested at the Soekarno Hatta airport in 2004 for smuggling 300 gms of heroin. His execution by a firing squad was deferred on July 29, this year.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at that time had said India was exploring all legal options to prevent his execution.

Appealing to the Indonesian government for mercy to Mr Singh, his wife Kulwinder Kaur had said he had spent 14 years in jail, which was enough penance if he was guilty.

Mr Widodo, however, said, “Drugs are a serious threat to Indonesia, and in particular for the country’s younger generation. Indonesia is now facing an emergency situation due to illicit drug trafficking and abuse.”