M’sia should plea on behalf of death row prisoner | Free Malaysia Today

M’sia should plea on behalf of death row prisoner

Vignesh Kumar | November 27, 2013

A Malaysian on death row could be sentenced to life imprisonment under the amended law since he is willing to cooperate with the authorities and was only a courier.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government should submit a recommendation order to  Singapore on Malaysian Cheong Chun Yin who is on death row in Singapore for a  drug-related offence, DAP national vice chairman M Kula Segaran said.

At a press conference today, Kula Segaran urged the Singapore government to seriously look into Cheong’s plea who is effectively denied the chance to be considered for relief from mandatory execution even though he meets the conditions of the new law.

Cheong’s willingness to cooperate with the police, and that he was only a courier could be sentenced to life imprisonment under the amended law.

He said Singapore police arrested Ipoh-born Cheong in June 2008 on suspicion of trafficking 2.7kg of heroin and the High Court sentenced him to death in February 2010. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal in October 2011.

Meanwhile, Cheong’s lawyer M Ravi claimed that Cheong cooperated with the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers and gave them the name, physical description and phone numbers of his contact – a man, only known as Lau De.

However, the CNB did not make any effort to investigate.

Ravi said High Court Judge Choo Han Teck stated: “It is immaterial that the CNB did not make adequate efforts to trace Lau De or check his (Cheong’s) cellphones.”

“Effectively, because cooperation was given but not utilised, it is now being treated as never been given.

“It is inconceivable that a judge would now be able to make the above statement in a capital case given the importance of cooperation. Literally, it could mean life or death,” he said, adding that while the accused is still alive, it is only right to allow him the benefit of the amended law.

He urged the judge to consider his plight and allow him a rehearing.

Sabahan Yong Vui Kong’s death sentence was  reduced this month to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane, under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act, which was amended in November last year.