Jakarta Globe, May 12, 2015
Alexandra Magnaeva, center, of Russia was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali when trying to smuggle over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine into the country. (AFP Photo/Sonny Tumbelaka) |
Jakarta. A
Russian woman who was sentenced on Monday to more than 16 years in jail by the
Denpasar District Court for attempting to smuggle 2.1 kilograms of
methamphetamine into Indonesia won’t appeal because she might be sentenced to
death.
Alexandra
Magnaeva was sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison and given a total
fine of Rp 10 billion ($757,000).
Heru
Purwanto, who represents Magnaeva, said his client had admitted to her crime
and would not appeal the verdict, for fear she could face the firing squad.
“She
accepts the verdict,” Heru said on Tuesday, as quoted by news portal
Kompas.com. “She is afraid that if she appeals she could end up getting a more
severe punishment. She’s a foreigner, she’s afraid she would get the death
penalty.”
Custom
officials at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport arrested Maganaeva, who
was reportedly behaving suspiciously, shortly after disembarking her flight
from Hong Kong in December last year.
Indonesia
has been put under the international spotlight in recent months after the
execution drug convicts — mostly foreign nationals — with a number still
waiting on death row.
In late
April, the government executed eight drug convicts, including seven foreigners.
The execution was the second round after the first was conducted in January
when six other foreigners were killed for drug offenses.
Philippines
national Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso and Frenchman Serge Atlaoui were granted
temporary reprieves.
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