executions

Lawyer says execution of two men an ‘unlawful act’

Coordinator

Source: FMT News

Family of executed brothers wants authorities to explain why they were hanged in a rush, with legal process not exhausted, says lawyer N Surendran. Pic from FMT News.

PETALING JAYA: The family of Rames and Suthar Batumalai, who were hanged four months ago over the murder of a man, is seeking explanations over their execution.

The family’s lawyer N Surendran, in a press conference today, said the family wants the Kajang prison authorities and the home ministry to explain why the execution was carried out without exhausting the legal process.

“When the execution was carried out, the outcome of the clemency petition was still pending. “A clemency petition is part of the legal process, not some discretion. It is not a privilege, but a legal right. Read more →

Death penalty: Home Ministry says 12 executed in last six years

admin

Source: The Malay Mail Online

Death Penalty

Death Penalty

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 ― Malaysia has executed 12 out of a total 829 people who were sentenced to death since 2010, the Home Ministry said today.

In a written parliamentary reply to Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, the ministry added that 95 others have received either a royal pardon or had their death sentence commuted.

“The sentence has been handed out due to the offences of murder, drug trafficking, smuggling firearms, and also kidnapping,” the ministry said.

Gobind had asked the government to give a breakdown on the death sentences meted out since 2010.

Last week, prison authorities came under criticism for what was described by Amnesty International as the “secretive” hanging of a 34-year-old man at the Taiping prison.

This was because Gunasegaran Pitchaymuthu was reportedly given very short notice regarding his execution.

Discussions and debates to abolish death penalty in Malaysia, especially under the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) had been taking place in Malaysia since 2011, but no legislative amendments had been proposed to date.