2 convicts on death row get royal pardon

KUALA LUMPUR: Two drug convicts were spared the death penalty and given life imprisonment instead after being pardoned by the sultan of Perak.

Malay daily Sinar Harian reported that the two prisoners, who have been in jail for over 16 years, were arrested for drug trafficking and were charged under Section 39(B)(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Both began their death sentences in March and June 2009 after their appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court were dismissed.

Based on the news report, Perak Pardons Board secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan had said that the two death row inmates’ life sentences started effectively on Oct 12.

The decision was made after a Pardons Board meeting, chaired by Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

The pardon was granted in conjunction with Sultan Nazrin’s birthday celebration on Nov 27.

“They have been in prison for more than 16 years, since 2001.

“Sultan of Perak decreed that their sentence be commuted from the death penalty to life imprisonment,” said Puhat.

He said pardons or reduced sentences were carefully reviewed and granted only if the sultan found that the prisoners had truly repented of their crimes.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othmad Said said about 651 Malaysians have been sentenced to death since 1992, including for drug offences.

Offences like drug trafficking and murder carry a mandatory death sentence.

Amnesty International, a human rights group, had ranked Malaysia 10th in the use of the death penalty.