Indonesia’s Court Rejects 2nd Appeal for Veloso-DFA

(PNA) — Indonesia’s court rejected on Monday the Philippine government’s appeal to review the sentence on convicted Filipino drug trafficker, Mary Jane Veloso, who is facing execution anytime this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Veloso, a 30-year-old mother of two, was arrested in 2010 at the Yogyakarta Airport. She was sentenced to death for possession of 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage. She insisted she is innocent and claimed she was duped into bringing the luggage to Indonesia by a Filipino friend who is also her recruiter.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the denial of Manila’s second appeal for judicial review on behalf of Veloso was confirmed by the Philippine embassy in Jakarta.

“Our embassy is now asking the lawyers to determine whether President Benigno S. Aquino III’s discussions this morning with President Widodo may open another window,” Jose said, referring to Mr. Aquino’s meeting with the Indonesian leader at the sidelines of an ongoing Southeast Asian summit in Malaysia.

The Sleman District Court said the appeal was denied based on Supreme Court rule that only one appeal is allowed, Jose said.

Reports said Veloso is slated for execution either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Veloso, her lawyers, and the Philippine embassy were first notified of her execution on Saturday afternoon, but they refused to sign the notice as the case was on appeal at that time.

The first appeal filed in March questioned the competence of Veloso’s translator during her trial, but was denied by the Indonesian Supreme Court.

A second appeal was sought by the Philippine government last Friday, citing a new argument that Veloso was a victim of human trafficking. (PNA) SCS/MDC/EDS