Indonesia court refuses to hear new witnesses for French man on death row

An Indonesian court denied the request of a French man sentenced to death for drug trafficking to have new witnesses heard in his case, dealing a blow to his hopes for attaining a retrial.

Serge Atlaoui during his trial, 6 November 2006. Reuters/Beawiharta

Serge Atlaoui, 51, was arrested in the Tangerang suburb of Jakarta in 2005 and sentenced to death in 2007 for installing machinery in an ecstasy laboratory that he claims to have believed was an acrylics plant.

In a courtroom packed with journalists, Atlaoui told the presiding judge he was requesting "a chance" to obtain a retrial, adding that he has shown good behaviour in the prison where he has been incarcerated for ten years.

But the judge denied his three lawyers' request to interrogate new witnesses on the grounds there was no new evidence in the case.

The prosecutor defended the death sentence, saying Atlaoui's acts had "extraordinary consequences" on the country, a reference to problems it faces in the harm inflicted by illegal drugs.

The defendant's spouse Sabine Atlauoi joined lawyers in voicing disappointment in the court's decision, although she said they "were not expecting miracles".

The court set a new hearing date on 25 March, a formality before referring the case to the Supreme Court.