The death sentence became final in September 2007 but since then the execution has been postponed several times. This stands in contrast, as many have pointed out, to the swift execution of other defendants like Christians Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu who were put to death despite not having exhausted all legal recourse at their disposal.
Under Indonesian law defendants can meet close relatives and their attorneys before they are moved to a secret location for execution. In this case the authorities might even allow them to meet close friends.
In the meantime their health continues to be closely monitored since executions can be postponed indefinitely if defendants are found to be mentally or physically unfit.
In its actions on behalf of the Bali bombers the TPM has called for changes to the procedures of execution. But the chief of the Constitutional Court, Prof Mahfud of the Islamic Indonesian University in Yogyakarta, said the group’s appeal has no bearing on this case.
“The Indonesian Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi) has been ready to discuss the matter” but “our schedule has nothing to do with the schedule of the execution,” said Mahfud. In his view there is no reason to wait for the Court’s decision.