5 sentenced to death in kidnap-murder case

HERAT CITY (PAN): A primary court sentenced five individuals to death and a sixth to 20 years in jail in a kidnap-murder case in western Herat province, an official said on Wednesday.

The convicts had kidnapped two brothers in Jibrael area four months ago and later killed one of them, the urban court head, Ghulam Rassoul Mansoor, told reporters.

He said those sentenced to death had confessed to their crime at the open trial in presence of their defence lawyers.

A family member of the victim, Dr. Ihsani, pleaded the court to enforce its verdict as soon as possible, saying it would lower crime ratio.

A relative of the men sentenced to death, Ali Ahmad, called the verdict as harsh, appealing the jury to review the ruling.

Mansoor said the convicts preserved the right to appeal against the judgment.

Nearly 100 convicts awarded death sentence are awaiting hanging and cases of 26 convicts have been sent to President Karzai for signature.

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