Surendran: Execution of Prabu in Singapore unlawful
PETALING Lawyer N. Surendran has spoken out against the execution of a Malaysian at Changi Prison after he was convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore.
Surendran said the execution was an unlawful act that was carried out in breach of due process and in defiance of the appeals made by Malaysia.
“We understand that Malaysian Cabinet ministers had spoken directly to Singapore’s leaders in a bid to halt the execution, to no avail,” the Lawyers for Liberty adviser said in a statement yesterday.
Prabu, 31, was sentenced to death for committing several acts preparatory to and for the purposes of trafficking in 227.82g of diamorphine or heroin into the island state on Dec 31, 2014.
Surendran said the letter sent to Prabu’s family by the Singapore President’s Office on their response to their clemency petition was “unlawful under the Singapore constitution”, as there was no bar to the filing of a fresh clemency petition.
“It is a flagrant breach of due process for the Singapore president to reject the family’s clemency petition without even considering it,” he said.
Surendran also questioned Singapore’s speed in carrying out the execution.
“Less than a week’s notice was given to Prabu and his family that he would be executed. Was this an underhand method by Singapore authorities to execute secretly and prevent representations being made or court applications being filed?” he asked.
“Prabu’s parents and siblings are devastated by the execution of their son and brother.
“They wish to thank the Malaysian government, and everyone on both sides of the causeway for their support and prayers over the past few difficult days,” he said.
Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail cited the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which outlined exceptions to the death penalty.
Expressing Suhakam’s regret on Prabu’s hanging, he said in a statement that it was unfortunate that a progressive nation like Singapore was implementing an outdated practice that was against civilised norms.