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Khoa Nguyen his twin waited outside Changi prison as his brother is murdered.
The execution murder in Singapore of Australian drug trafficker Van Nguyen has been confirmed.
In a break from convention, Singapore's Government has issued a statement formally confirming the 25-year-old was hanged this morning.
"The sentence was carried out this morning at Changi Prison," the Ministry of Home Affairs statement said.
The 25-year-old from Melbourne was sentenced to death after being convicted of trying to smuggle nearly 400 grams of heroin through Changi Airport.
As daybreak approached, Nguyen's brother, Khoa, arrived at Changi Prison with a number of his friends.
He left after spending more than an hour in the visitors' centre during the time the execution was scheduled.
Lawyer Julian McMahon told reporters they wanted to be at the wall of the jail at the scheduled time for the execution.
Mr McMahon says Nguyen's mother was with friends and relatives at a nearby church at the scheduled time of the hanging.
He said the Australian High Commission had agreed to formally identify Nguyen's body after the hanging.
Mr McMahon says funeral arrangements have been made and it is expected the family will fly out to Australia tomorrow.
Mr McMahon spoke to reporters about the last moments between Nguyen and his mother.
"Well I actually wasn't in the room when that happened but there was a grill and they were able to hold each other's hands and Kim was able to, at least for some time, I'm not sure how long, was able to touch Van on the face," he said.
Church services
Masses have been held in cities around the country to mark the execution.
In Melbourne, the bell tolled 25 times at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Richmond - once for each year of Nguyen's life.
Members of Victoria's Criminal Bar Association gathered outside the County Court in Melbourne to observe a minute's silence for Nguyen.
Stephen Shirrefs, the vice-chairman of the association, says they support the fight against the mandatory death penalty.
"We are here to demonstrate our opposition to capital punishment, as a mark of respect to the family of Van Nguyen and as a mark of solidarity for two of our members who in the fine tradition of the Victorian Bar have acted pro bono and for the last three years fought to save the life of Van Nguyen," he said.
At Martin Place in Sydney, a Vietnamese gong also sounded 25 times.
A crowd gathered and maintained a silent vigil.
Churchgoers in Brisbane have also prayed for Nguyen and expressed hopes the events of today are not taken for granted.
Fr Peter Dillon led the congregation at St Stephen's Cathedral in a prayer calling for an end to executions.
Fr Dillon says he fears today's execution will have little impact on the drug trade.
"I sadly think, unfortunately, and this is the insidiousness of the drug culture, I think it's just another dead body for the drug world. And there's thousands of them everyday, so I don't think they're going to be moved by all this," he said.
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Indonesian anti-corruption body
Leslie judges under the thumb!
A corrupt Indonesian government has now suggested that its anti-corruption body says it is investigating the judges who presided over the trial of Australian model Michelle Leslie on drug charges.
Don't blame me just because I am bored, I'm needy, I need to taste it all. Don't doubt me just because I am quiet. I'm thinking, thinking about it all.
But in Indonesia where they sanction state terror, there cannot be any such thing as an Anti-corruption body because the government in Indonesia is corrupt from the top down, but not for a song!
I'm helpless about the way of me. I'm thinking, thinking about it all.
I'm sorting everything inside.
A Balinese court convicted Leslie after she was found in possession of two ecstasy pills and sentenced her to three months in jail.
I'm looking in the space. This time, this void. I'm making my way through the muddy minutes. The pull is in my muscle. The ache is in my bones. It's hard to be alone.
(Breathe, breathe), It won't be long now (breathe, breathe).
Leslie was freed the day after the verdict was handed down as the judges took into account the time she had spent in jail during the trial.
After taking bribes the corrupt Indonesian government says its corrupt National Judicial Commission, which oversees judges in Indonesia, has confirmed that it is investigating the three-person panel responsible for the decision.
Say again? How can a filthy corrupt Indonesian government try and tell the world that they are going to get their national commission (that can only be corrupt) to investigate anything? And be believed?
An official says the sentence is regarded as being too lenient.
Sure, she should have at least got the death penalty?
How many pills would that take, you dog person?
See through me when I put up a fight. Like you to see the things I hide. Go deeper than I won't let you know. I'm frightened but I won't let it show.
The commission is a set-up, a propaganda tool and a mechanism to try and bail out an embarrassed Indonesian government before the eyes of the world.
What right have the pro-government media institutions here got to try and brainwash the Australian people with nonsense and whitewash from the Indonesian authorities, trying to cover up their misdeeds?
This case is not as bad as blowing people up on the dance floor, in the cafes or at work at the Embassy because if that were what they were investigating then they'd have to start from the top down, in Indonesia.
I'm helpless about the way of me. I'm thinking, thinking about it all.
I'm sorting everything inside.
They'll tell you that the commission was set up earlier this year to root out corruption in the judicial system, but not from the top down?
They claim that since its inception it has investigated 280 cases but has returned a corruption verdict in only one case.
See! Nothing wrong with them! I believe you?
I'm looking in the space. This time, this void. I'm making my way through the muddy minutes. The pull is in my muscle. The ache is in my bones. It's hard to be alone.
The corrupt Indonesian police say that Ms Leslie was arrested at a dance party in August after two tablets of ecstasy were found in her handbag.
(Breathe, breathe) It won't be long now (breathe, breathe).
Lyrics: Written: Kylie Minogue/ Dave Ball/ Ingo Vauk
Related:
Bill: Who can take a sunrise,sprinkle it in spew, cover it in allegations and a lie or two?
A GROUP of Sydney men, targeted by prime meanster john hoWARd, (the coward) and accused of lots of 'things' on Australian soil, with war and greed, (where they happen to reside) and had 'specific eyes, (brown?), on places and seen specific sites, (looked at them?), as they toured? country NSW?
According to a 'government executive' they may even of had 'private meetings' 'somewhere' as recently as this month in preparation for a 'thing' at no place.
Bill: The neo-liberals can, the neo-liberals can cause they mixes it with fear and makes the world taste terror.
A computer memory stick found at the home of one of the men also contained instructions for the manufacture of explosives, Central Local Court was told last Friday.
But people would be aware that this information and similar information could also have been downloaded from the internet so perhaps having a memory stick is the real problem?
Bill: Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in black, soak it in the media and make a dangerous terrorist act?
Children: The neo-liberals can?
The claims were made as one of eight Sydney men arrested in an ASIO fishing expedition applied for and was refused bail, while another man, Izzydeen Atik, was ordered to be extradited to Victoria to face communication related charges.
Belmore handyman Mirsad Mulahalilovic, 29, is accused of purchasing plastic caps and PVC piping - materials used in the packaging of explosives, the Crown alleged
Bill: john hoWARd makes, everything he bakes, illegal and seditious, talk about his political wishes, you can even eat the misses.
Even though Belmore handyman Mirsad Mulahalilovic, 29, should not be accused of purchasing plastic caps and PVC piping - materials used in the building industry - the law was reversed to make it look like a threat to national security and a public danger?
A quantity of cleaning material 'hydrochloric acid' was also allegedly found at his home, a product used widely, by bricklayers for instance, to clean the common house brick.
Authorities Sinister Plot
But the crown alleged it was used in the manufacture of explosives such as TATP - also known as triacetone triperoxide - which was alledgedly used in the London terror attacks.
Opposing bail Friday, Crown Prosecutor Wendy Abraham, QC, said Mulahalilovic - a Bosnian who came to Australia in 1996 - was part of a group that recently held secret gatherings as a prelude to a planned terrorist attack.
"The Crown will be alleging that this accused is one of those persons involved in covert meetings this month," Ms Abraham said.
So when were private meetings banned anyway?
Bill: Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a fear, separate the community, and collect up all cream?
The neo-liberals can.
Abraham: "There is evidence of hydrochloric acid and (plastic) caps and (PVC) piping (in relation to Mulahalilovic). It's obvious what the significance of hydrochloric acid is to this case.
Children: john hoWARd can!
Bricks?
Abraham: "A memory stick found at the home of one of the accused contained instructions and images for the manufacture of a particular explosive. The instructions included the making of TATP (involving) hydrochloric acid.
Found most likely on the Internet and the by-product of the introduction of computer memory sticks?
Abraham: "It is obvious ... there have been a number of attempts to obtain sufficient quantities of hydrochloric acid. The other items which the accused is involved in purchasing are items that are involved in the packaging of the explosive."
clutching at straws
clean bricks + hydrochloric acid = 58,000 references @ google
Any brickie will have up to 100+ litres on hand
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/99166_comment.php#99229
Bill: Are you ready children?
Applying for bail on behalf of Mulahalilovic, barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, gave some insight into the Crown allegations against several of the other terror suspects.
Mr Boulten argued that, according to the Crown statement of facts, the alleged role of Mulahalilovic was not as integral to the plot as some of his alleged co-conspirators.
Bill: Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it in spew, cover it in allegations and a lie or two?
"There's no evidence this man travelled to Melbourne to meet with anybody who is said by the prosecution to be part of this alleged conspiracy," Mr Boulten said.
"There's no suggestion ... that this man was a member of any of these trips that went to country districts of NSW.
"There's no evidence ... which suggests that this man was, in any way, surveilling, checking out or making observations of any particular potential site or target.
"There is no suggestion ... that he was with any of the others when any of the others did what they are alleged to have done."
Bill: Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in black, soak it in the media and make a dangerous terrorist act?
Children: The neo-liberals can?
Bill: The neo-liberals can, the neo-liberals can cause they mixes it with fear and makes the world taste terror.
Mr Boulten said his client became an Australian citizen after arriving as a refugee from the war in the former Yugoslavia.
He said Mulahalilovic worked as a handyman, lived with his wife, parents and brother and, with the help of family members, could provide around $1 million security to ensure his freedom until trial.
Refusing bail, magistrate Allan Moore said he expected further material from the investigation would involve Mulahalilovic.
"He is allegedly involved in activities which had the potential to create a great disturbance for this country," Mr Moore said.
But it's potentially disturbing to lock up a handyman.
Bill: And the world tastes terror cause the neo-liberals thinks it should.
Related:
when they went fishing?
for a police state
A Shield or A Sword?
