Singapore

Lawyer, activists slam pre-execution photoshoot

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News

Petaling Jaya: N Surendran has slammed the practice in Singapore which has death-row inmates take part in a photoshoot “a day or two” before they are sent to the gallows, labelling it “inhumane”.

The lawyer who represented the family of S Prabagaran, the Malaysian who was hanged in Singaporefor drug trafficking, also said the act was morbid.

“It shows the harshness of Singaporean authorities to treat a person like that. They (death-row inmates) are not dolls,” he told FMT.

He was asked to comment on a tweet by We Believe in Second Chances co-founder Kirsten Han who uploaded a picture of a smiling Prabagaran.

“This was taken of Prabagaran this week as part of the pre-execution prison photoshoot. Photos are then given to the family,” she wrote. Read more →

Malaysia’s Jho Low claims Singapore ‘politically motivated’ in 1MDB scandal

Nicole Geschke

Source: The Asian Correspondent

Image source: The Asian Correspondent. Jho Low during interview.

THE Malaysian businessman at the center of the country’s multi-billion dollar state investment fund scandal on Thursday accused Singapore of being politically motivated in linking him to its probe and prosecutions on the matter.

A spokesman for Low Taek Jho or Jho Low – who has been implicated in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal – said in a statement that the attempt to link Low to recent guilty pleas by parties who allegedly made illicit profits through money laundering was “based on unfounded assumptions”.

Low, a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his family, did not mention names but was likely referring to Yeo Jiawei, the former BSI banker who was on Wednesday given an additional four and a half years prison sentence by a Singapore court over financial offences involving 1MDB. Reports from court had quoted Singaporean prosecutors as saying 1MDB was merely a “victim” of Jho Low, who they also named as a key figure in the scandal. Read more →

MADPET calls on Singapore to stop its plans to execute Malaysian citizen in respect of Malaysian court

Nicole Geschke

Source: The Online Citizen

by Charles Hector, for and on behalf of MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Source of image: Shutterstock.com

MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) calls on Singapore to stop its plans to execute Malaysian citizen Prabagaran Srivijayan on Friday, 14 July 2017. Prabagaran was convicted and sentenced to death for the offence of drug trafficking by Singapore.  There are concerns that he was not accorded a fair trial.

There is an application now pending at the Malaysian Court of Appeal to refer Singapore to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for breach of the right to a fair trial. Last March, the Malaysian High Court denied the application for leave for a judicial review to compel Malaysia to intervene by referring Singapore to the ICJ. That means that this judicial review is not even been heard on the merits. Justice demands that Prabagaran not be executed until this court application be heard.

Singapore will not lose anything by simply postponing the execution, better still commuting the death penalty to imprisonment.

Read more →

Govt cannot intervene in case of Malaysians on Singapore death row, court rules

Coordinator

Source: The Malay Mail Online

court-signpost-200x200 (1)KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 — Two Malaysians who are on death row in Singapore for drug trafficking today failed to obtain leave for a judicial review to compel the government to intervene by referring the republic to the International Court of Justice (IJC).

This followed a decision by High Court judge Datuk Hanipah Farikullah in dismissing the applications by S. Prabagaran, 30, and his mother, V. Eswary, 54, as well as K. Datchinamurthy, 32, and his mother, A. Letchumi, 54,

Hanipah made the decision in chambers in a proceeding attended by their lawyers, N. Surendran and Latheefa Koya, as well as Senior Federal Counsel Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar and Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, who represented the home minister and the government, and lawyer Andrew Khoo, from the Bar Council. Read more →

Death row inmate: Lawyers disappointed envoy won’t help

Coordinator

Source: FMT News

Lawyers defending Malaysian on Singapore death row want foreign minister to clarify country's stand if Malaysians travelling abroad run into legal troubles. Pic taken from FMT News.

Lawyers defending Malaysian on Singapore death row want foreign minister to clarify country’s stand if Malaysians travelling abroad run into legal troubles. Pic taken from FMT News.

PETALING JAYA: The lawyers of a Singapore death row prisoner are disappointed with Malaysia’s high commissioner Ilango Karuppannan for stating that Putrajaya will not interfere in the case of Prabagaran Srivijayan.

Referring to Ilango’s comments, N Surendran and Latheefa Koya said Putrajaya’s decision would have a major impact on Malaysians travelling or living abroad who faced legal proceedings in foreign places.

“What he said has wider consequences. I urge Foreign Minister Anifah Aman to clarify this matter and state the government’s stand on Malaysians treated unfairly abroad, and to take all steps necessary to save Prabagaran from the gallows,” Surendran and Latheefa said in a statement released today.

Yesterday, IIango said Malaysia would not interfere in Singapore’s internal affairs in relation to a Malaysian on death row in Changi prison. Read more →

Don’t deny rights of man on death row, lawyers tell Singapore

Coordinator

Source: FMT News

PETALING JAYA: The lawyers of death row prisoner Prabagaran Srivijayan are calling for Singapore to allow them access to their client after the country’s prison authorities rejected their application to meet with him.

Lawyers, N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, slam authorities for denying them access to client to discuss judicial review filed in KL High Court. Pic from FMT News.

Lawyers, N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, slam authorities for denying them access to client to discuss judicial review filed in KL High Court. Pic from FMT News.

Prabagaran, 29, is on Singapore’s death row after being found guilty of drug trafficking.

His lawyers, N Surendran and Latheefa Koya, said the Singapore Prison Services had on Feb 13 rejected their application seeking access to Prabagaran.

In a press statement released today, Surendran and Latheefa said they were entitled to meet and consult with Prabagaran as they were acting for him in legal matters.

They referred to a judicial review application filed on Jan 16, adding that it was imperative that they consulted Prabagaran over the proceedings.

Prabagaran had filed leave application for judicial review in the KL High Court, in an effort to compel Putrajaya to start legal proceedings against Singapore before an international tribunal for denying him a fair trial.

“The right to have access to and consult with lawyers is a basic right recognised under both Singapore and Malaysian law,” Surendran and Latheefa said today. Read more →

Death row prisoner in Singapore turns to Malaysian court

admin

Source: FMT News

noose-hang-death-penalty-2410KUALA LUMPUR: Another death row prisoner has turned to the Malaysian courts to compel Putrajaya to start legal proceedings against Singapore before an international tribunal for denying him a fair trial.

Factory worker K Datchinamurthy, who was found guilty of drug trafficking, also wants a declaration from the court that Putrajaya is obliged to protect his life and freedom.

In his leave application for judicial review today, the 32-year-old named the foreign minister and the Malaysian government as respondents.

He is also asking for any other relief deemed fit by the court.

Datchinamurthy’s mother, A Letchumi, has affirmed an affidavit in support of her son’s application.

Lawyer N Surendran said this application was made as his client and family members had exhausted all avenues to stop the execution from being carried out anytime now. Read more →

Singapore starts first trial in 1MDB money-laundering scandal

Coordinator

Source: Borneo Post Online

2dd59cdba2fc323806e54f736afdb6c36a6286a4SINGAPORE: A former private banker went on trial in Singapore yesterday in the first prosecution of suspects linked to a massive international money-laundering scandal centred on Malaysian state fund 1MDB.

State prosecutors described the sums involved as ‘staggering’. They said Singaporean Yeo Jiawei, 33, an ex-wealth manager at Swiss bank BSI, was ‘one of the main Singapore-based suspects’ in the scandal, which is also being investigated by Switzerland and the United States.

Allegations that billions of dollars were misappropriated from 1MDB have triggered a scandal in neighbouring Malaysia. Singapore, a regional financial hub, last year launched a probe into alleged illicit fund flows linked to 1MDB and closed down the local branches of two Swiss banks – BSI and Falcon Private Bank – involved in the scheme. Read more →

S’pore comes under pressure over female genital cutting of babies

Coordinator

Source: FMT News 

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Medical clinics in Singapore are carrying out female genital cutting on babies, according to people with first-hand experience of the procedure, despite growing global condemnation of the practice which world leaders have pledged to eradicate.

The ancient ritual – more commonly associated with rural communities in a swathe of African countries – is observed by most Muslim Malays in Singapore where it is legal but largely hidden, said Filzah Sumartono of women’s rights group AWARE.

Worldwide, more than 200 million girls and women are believed to have undergone female genital cutting or mutilation (FGM), according to United Nations figures.

But its existence in Singapore, a wealthy island state which prides itself on being a modern, cosmopolitan city with high levels of education, shows the challenge of tackling a practice rooted in culture, tradition and a desire to belong.

Sumartono said it was too early to press for a ban in Singapore although many countries have outlawed FGM. She said they first needed to create more awareness and debate around the practice and galvanize public support for ending it. Read more →

Transboundary haze: What to do? – Gurdial Singh Nijar

admin

Source: The Sun Daily

BY GURDIAL SINGH NIJAR
(Deputy President, HAKAM)

Thick smoke rising from over the Ogan Komering Ilir area in South Sumatra on Saturday. Indonesia has launched its biggest operation ever to combat fires blanketing Southeast Asia in smoke, but experts say the poor air quality could continue into next year. – AFP pic, October 19, 2015. Drawn from TMI.

THE haze (or smog) that envelopes us every year is becoming intolerable. It has continued for almost 13 years. Each time we are assured that the levels are acceptable, not that dangerous and a solution is coming. Recently, a deputy minister promised that a “haze free region” will soon be achieved.

The Indonesian government says it’s getting tough – “no more dragging of feet”. True to word 140 suspects were rounded up last month including some corporate figures.

More recently an Indonesian and a Malaysian palm oil company were dealt with rather severely; the former an unprecedented record fine of RM107 million; the latter’s manager jailed for a year as well.

Heavy penalties are rare. Although, to be fair, under the new president Joko Widodo, the Indonesian government has revoked (on Oct 7) the licences of four plantations identified as being the culprits.

But green groups and others are sceptical. Several cases dating back to 2012-2013 remain in limbo with no conviction. Remember, that was when Malaysia had to declare a “haze emergency” because air pollution was at a record high. Read more →