After Nagaenthran, Singapore urged to call off execution of another mentally disabled Malaysian

PETALING JAYA: Singapore must stop the execution of mentally challenged Malaysian citizen Pausi Jefridin, says Lawyers for Liberty.

In a statement on Monday (Feb 14), the NGO urged the Singapore government to review Pausi Jefridin's case thoroughly and consider exercising presidential clemency in light of his mental disability and Singapore’s treaty obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Pausi and another Death Row inmate, Roslan Bakar, are to be executed on Wednesday (Feb 16) following their drug trafficking conviction in 2010.

“We refer to reports that Singapore will be proceeding with the execution of mentally disabled Malaysian citizen Pausi Jefridin on Feb 16.

“Pausi, who has an IQ of only 67, clearly comes within the threshold of persons with intellectual disability and thus comes within the protection of the CRPD.

“Since Singapore has acceded to the CRPD, proceeding with the execution would mean that it is deliberately disregarding its international obligations,” the statement read.

Lawyers Zaid Malek and Mahajoth Singh said in the statement that despite the international backlash Singapore received in November when it planned to execute Malaysian Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, also said to be mentally challenged, the island republic remained indifferent to world opinion.

“Time and time again, Singapore is wilfully ignoring its international obligations.

“Imposing the death penalty on persons with mental disability is contrary to customary international law, inhumane and sickening.

“Both international law and the Singapore Constitution prohibit the execution of anyone who suffers from a mental disorder," they said.

To compound the matter, they said, the Singapore authorities only informed Pausi’s family of the execution on Feb 9, barely seven days before the date, causing them great difficulty in travelling there due to stringent restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This rush to execute an intellectually disabled person is unfathomable.

“Nagaenthran’s court challenge, which has raised important questions on the legality of executing a mentally disabled person with an IQ below 70, is still pending.

“Hence Pausi, who suffers from the same condition, must not be executed while Nagaenthran’s appeal has yet to be decided.

“It is totally unacceptable to carry out this execution while the courts have yet to decide on the critical legal and constitutional issues surrounding the execution of mentally disabled persons.

“We further note that Roslan, a Singaporean citizen with a borderline range of intellectual function, is also to be hanged on the same day,” they said.