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| Arabia |
| Man spared execution in Saudi |
| 2004-12-12 |
| A FILIPINO expatriate worker was spared beheading in Saudi Arabia after the Philippine government paid "blood money" to waive his death sentence, a Philippine official said today. Saudi judges ordered the release of Primo Gasmen last week after the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs paid $US15,000 ($19,868) to the family of a Nepalese national he stabbed to death in 1998. "We are very happy and relieved that he is being released," said the vice consul of the Philippine embassy in Riyadh, Romulo Israel. "It was a real struggle to free him." He hoped Gasmen, who converted to Islam during his almost six years in prison, would be freed and repatriated before the end of the year. Saudi Arabia executes convicted murderers, rapists and drug smugglers, most often by public beheading with a sword. At least 52 people were executed last year and 45 in 2002. |
| Posted by:tipper |