Halt execution of Malaysian citizen in Singapore

MALAYSIAN citizen Kalwant Singh Jogindar has been scheduled to hang on July 7 in Singapore’s Changi Prison. He was sentenced to death on Oct 24, 2013, for trafficking in 60.15g of diamorphine.

Kalwant was 23 years old when he was arrested and has always maintained that he never knew that the bundles he was carrying were drugs. He was still convicted mainly on the testimony of a co-accused person.

Kalwant is next on the long list of Malaysians whom Singapore has slated for the gallows despite the barrage of criticisms it has received from the international community for executing low-level drug mules.

The imposition of the death penalty for drug crimes has been declared by the United Nations to be in violation of international law. Malaysia has taken positive steps towards its eventual abolition with the government’s undertaking to abolish the mandatory death penalty. Singapore, however, in contradiction to prevailing international norms, continues with executions.

The death penalty is an archaic and brutal form of punishment that does not deter serious crime; it is irreversible and the ultimate denial of human rights. Continuing to hang drug mules while knowing they are easily replaceable by drug kingpins simply conveys the illusion of taking action instead of actually resolving the illicit drug trade.

We strongly urge the government of Singapore to comply with international law and halt the hanging of Kalwant as well as review its imposition of the death penalty for drug crimes. At the same time, we urge the Malaysian government to make urgent representations to Singapore to save our citizen from the gallows.

LAWYERS FOR LIBERTY