Death row prisoners left languishing in prison for life in PNG?

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

 

Death row prisoners left languishing in prison for life in PNG?

PORT MORESBY: Death row prisoners in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are not being executed because there is no legislation on the method of execution.

What then is the current status of death row prisoners in PNG? It appears they will be left languishing in prison for life.

Here is a report on the issue as published by The National:

 

Pokanis: No law on executions

August 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

CORRECTIONAL Services (CS) Commissioner Stephen Pokanis says current Correctional Services legislation does not have provisions authorising officers to execute detainees on death row.
He noted that 15 detainees were currently on death row.
Pokanis said this when responding to questions by The National yesterday on why the State was yet to decide on the method of killing and status of those on death row.
“Execution of detainees on death row will be a new responsibility and so regulatory processes and systems should be established,” he said.
“These processes and systems are important to administer the death penalty.
“A lot of work was done by senior officers within the law and justice sector agencies on deciding suitable methods to use for execution since 2014.
“Apart from these administrative processes and systems, the need to establish the power of mercy committee is critical to give a final opportunity to the detainees on death row to exercise their rights to apply to the committee to deliberate on their applications.”
Pokanis said the Correctional Services’ mandated responsibility under the Correctional Service Act 1995 was to keep prisoners and provide secure accommodation and rehabilitation process.
“The current CS legislation does not have provisions authorising CS officers to execute detainees on death row,” he said.
Pokanis said 15 detainees were currently on death sentences.
Initially, a total of 26 detainees were sentenced to death.
Four detainees escaped from custody; three passed away while serving their sentences; two were released upon successful appeal to the Supreme Court; and, two other detainees had their death sentences commuted to life sentences upon successful appeal.

 

 

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