Thursday, December 24, 2015

Death Penalty, Mandatory Death Penalty, Executions and Death Row Statistics dated 3/11/2015 (Parliamentary Q & A)

Parliamentary Question and Answer on the Death Penalty, Mandatory Death Penalty, Executions and Death Row Statistics dated 3/11/2015

Thanks to Member of Parliament Kulasegaran (DAP Ipoh) for sharing the question and the answers to his questions, we can share it.[Parliamentary Written Questions/Oral questions not answered due to time constraints, do get answers from the Government - but these are not available on the Parliamentary websites. Only if the said MP shares it with us, will we know the question and answers. Sadly, too many MPs, both from BN and the Opposition do not share.)






Malaysia is not just reviewing the mandatory death penalty, but the death penalty - and the decision will be made.

On death row, as of 6/10/2015 is 1,022.

Malaysia executed 33 persons since 1998 until 6/10/2015. During the relevant period, 127 death row prisoners have had their sentence commuted.

 

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

EAIC - Polis bunuh Syed Mohd Azlan dalam tahanan, lupuskan keterangan,...??



KENYATAAN MEDIA

MAKLUMAN SIASATAN SURUHANJAYA INTEGRITI AGENSI PENGUATKUASAAN (EAIC)  KE ATAS KEMATIAN SYED MOHD AZLAN BIN SYED MOHAMED NUR SEMASA DI DALAM TAHANAN POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA (PDRM) 

Putrajaya – 30 Oktober 2015 - Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan atau Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) ingin mengumumkan kepada orang awam mengenai dapatan (findings) siasatan oleh Suruhanjaya ini ke atas kematian Syed Mohd Azlan bin Syed Mohamed Nur semasa dalam tahanan PDRM

Dalam hal ini, EAIC melalui Pasukan Petugas yang dibentuk telah menjalankan siasatan yang merangkumi terma-terma rujukan yang berikut: Terma-terma rujukan (terms of reference) Pasukan Petugas adalah seperti berikut: 

(i) Untuk mengenal pasti sama ada terdapat sebarang salah laku seperti yang diperuntukkan di bawah seksyen 24 Akta 700 oleh pegawai/ anggota PDRM semasa mengendalikan tahanan tersebut; 

(ii) Sekiranya terdapat salah laku dizahirkan, untuk menentukan dan mengenal pasti: 


(a) bagaimana dan mengapa salah laku itu terjadi;

(b) apakah peraturan-peraturan, kaedah-kaedah, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) atau mekanisme yang menyebabkan atau mendorong kepada berlakunya salah laku tersebut; dan 

(c) siapakah individu yang bertanggungjawab ke atas salah laku tersebut. 



(iii) Untuk melakukan semua perkara yang suai manfaat atau yang semunasabahnya perlu bagi, atau yang bersampingan dengan, pelaksanaan fungsinya dalam menyiasat kes kematian tahanan tersebut selaras dengan peruntukan Akta 700; 


(iv) Untuk mengesyorkan apa-apa penambahbaikan atau penggubalan semula peraturan-peraturan, kaedah-kaedah, SOP atau mekanisme bagi memastikan salah laku tersebut tidak berulang; dan 


(v) Untuk menyedia dan mengedarkan laporan mengenai hasil dan dapatan siasatan dan syor-syor terhadapnya.



Sehubungan dengan pembentukan Pasukan Petugas tersebut, Pasukan Petugas yang telah mengambil tindakan berikut: 

(a) mengambil keterangan daripada 35 orang saksi (termasuk anggota polis berkaitan penangkapan dan tahanan Syed Mohd Azlan (si mati), pegawai perubatan, orang awam dan juga ahli keluarga si mati); 

(b) melawat dan memeriksa tempat kejadian di mana Syed Mohd Azlan telah ditangkap;

(c) meneliti dan mengkaji dokumen-dokumen yang berkaitan termasuk laporan polis berkenaan tangkapan, catatan Buku Perharian Balai, laporan bedah siasat dan laporan kimia beserta gambar-gambar berkaitan;


Latar belakang kejadian tangkapan dan kematian si mati adalah seperti berikut: 

(i) Pada 19 September, 2014 lebih kurang jam 1.00 pagi, pengadu iaitu seorang lelaki Melayu bersama beberapa rakannya termasuk seorang teman wanita pengadu telah pergi ke rumah di alamat No. 53, Kampung Dato’ Abdul Ghani untuk berjumpa dengan Syed Mohd Azlan bin Syed Mohamed Nur (si mati). Mereka diberitahu oleh bapa si mati bahawa si mati tiada di rumah pada ketika itu. 

(ii) Lebih kurang 30 minit kemudian, si mati pulang ke rumah bersama beberapa rakan si mati dengan menaiki kereta jenis Proton Saga berwarna perak serta sebuah lagi kereta jenis Honda berwarna hitam. Setiba di situ, si mati dan rakan-rakan si mati dikatakan telah keluar daripada kereta dengan bersenjatakan senjata berbentuk sepucuk pistol dan sebilah pedang samurai lalu menyerang pengadu dan rakan-rakan pengadu sehingga mendatangkan kecederaan ke atas pengadu dan rakan pengadu. Pengadu berjaya melarikan diri dari terus diserang. 

(iii) Satu laporan polis telah dibuat oleh pengadu di Balai Polis Sungai Rengit (Sg Rengit Rpt: 816/2014) bersabit dengan kejadian tersebut pada 19 September 2014 jam 4.45 pagi. Satu kertas siasatan telah dibuka oleh pihak polis untuk disiasat di bawah seksyen 148 Kanun Keseksaan, iaitu memiliki senjata di dalam rusuhan. 

(iv) Pada 3 November 2014, jam lebih kurang 3.30 pagi, bertindak di atas maklumat, sepasukan polis seramai 13 orang anggota yang diketuai oleh seorang pegawai berpangkat Inspektor telah membuat serbuan ke atas sebuah bilik sewa di rumah bernombor 62, Kampung Simon, Teluk Ramunia, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Johor dan telah menangkap si mati. Tiada apa-apa senjata api dijumpai dari si mati. 

(v) Selepas ditangkap, si mati telah dibawa balik ke Balai Polis Sungai Rengit untuk disoal siasat berkaitan kejadian pergaduhan dan penyimpanan senjata api. Bagaimana pun masih tiada senjata api ditemui walau pun pihak polis telah membuat penggeledahan di rumah bapa si mati. 

(vi) Pada jam lebih kurang 7.10 pagi pada hari yang sama, si mati telah dibawa oleh pihak polis menaiki kenderaan polis dari Balai Polis Sungai Rengit untuk pergi ke Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Kota Tinggi bagi tujuan menguruskan permohonan reman ke atas si mati berkaitan kes di mana si mati di tangkap yang disiasat di bawah seksyen 148 Kanun Keseksaan bersabit Sg. Rengit Rpt: 816/2014. 

(vii) Semasa di dalam perjalanan ke IPD Kota Tinggi, anggota polis yang mengiringi si mati mendapati si mati berada di dalam keadaan yang lemah dan tidak bermaya serta tidak memberikan sebarang respon kepada panggilan/pertanyaan yang dibuat oleh anggota pengiring tersebut. Anggota pengiring tersebut sertamerta memaklumkan keadaan si mati kepada pegawai tangkapan yang ikut sama di dalam kereta tersebut. 

(viii) Di atas arahan pegawai tersebut, mereka terus menuju ke klinik berdekatan iaitu Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Penawar. Setibanya mereka di Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Penawar pada jam lebih kurang 8.30 pagi, pegawai perubatan bertugas iaitu Dr. Mohd Mahdzan Bin Mazelan telah melakukan pemeriksaan ke atas si mati dan mengesahkan bahawa si mati telah meninggal dunia. 

(ix) Satu laporan polis tentang kematian si mati telah dibuat oleh pegawai iaitu ketua pasukan tangkapan pada 3 November 2014, jam 10.15 pagi (hari yang sama) melalui Bandar Penawar Report No. 002169/14. 

(x) Pada 4 November 2014, bedah siasat (post mortem) telah dijalankan ke atas mayat si mati oleh Dr. Rohayu binti Shahar Adnan di Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru yang mengesahkan punca kematian adalah akibat daripada trauma hentakan tumpul pada dada (blunt force trauma to chest). Pemeriksaan juga mendapati si mati mengalami 61 jenis kesan luka/lebam/calaran (bruises) pada tubuh badan termasuk pada bahagian muka, badan dan kedua-dua belah kaki si mati. Satu laporan post mortem telah disediakan oleh doktor pakar tersebut.

Siasatan kes kematian si mati tersebut telah selesai dijalankan oleh Pasukan Petugas EAIC dan diterima oleh EAIC selari dengan terma-terma rujukan siasatan. Dapatan (findings) siasatan adalah seperti berikut: 

1. Kematian Syed Mohd Azlan Bin Syed Mohamed Nur (si mati) mempunyai kaitan dengan penggunaan kekerasan secara fizikal oleh pihak polis yang menjalankan tangkapan dan soal siasat ke atas si mati; 

2. Pakar Perunding dan Ketua Jabatan, Jabatan Perubatan Forensik, Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru, yang menjalankan bedah siasat ke atas mayat si mati mendapati kematian Syed Mohd Azlan disebabkan oleh trauma hentakan tumpul (blunt force trauma to the chest) ke atas dada si mati tersebut. Pemeriksaan juga mendapati si mati mengalami 61 jenis kecederaan di bahagian muka, badan dan kedua-dua belah kaki. Sebahagian daripada kecederaan yang dialami oleh si mati konsisten dengan kecederaan semasa berusaha mempertahankan diri daripada kekerasan fizikal yang dilakukan ke atasnya oleh anggota-anggota polis. 


3. Terdapat perlakuan gangguan bahan bukti yang material oleh anggota PDRM iaitu, 

(i) membersihkan tempat kejadian sebelum dilawati dan diperiksa oleh pegawai perubatan,

(ii) melupuskan tikar getah dan karpet yang dipercayai mempunyai kesan darah si mati di tempat kejadian tangkapan, dan 

(iii) perlakuan menyembunyikan/menghilangkan saksi mata (eye witness) yang melihat kejadian tangkapan si mati


4. Terdapat anggota tangkapan yang menggunakan gari milik persendirian anggota tersebut yang bukan dibekalkan oleh PDRM bagi menggari si mati selepas ditangkap yang telah menyumbang kepada berlakunya kecederaan di pergelangan tangan si mati.


5. Terdapat beberapa pemecahan serius (serious breach) ke atas Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) PDRM berkaitan tatacara tangkapan dan pengendalian orang tangkapan, sitaan barang kes dan integriti keterangan (SOP Tangkapan Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah PDRM); SOP Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah (Prosedur Penggeledahan dan Rampasan) telah dilakukan oleh pegawai dan anggota pasukan serbuan yang dikenalpasti oleh siasatan ini; 


6. Terdapat perlakuan serangan bersifat jenayah yang melibatkan unsur niat bersama atau pensubahatan (abetment) oleh anggota PDRM yang terdiri daripada anggota pasukan tangkapan bagi melakukan kekerasan fizikal secara sengaja ke atas si mati yang telah mengakibatkan kecederaan dan kematian ke atas si mati, dan perlakuan ini adalah merupakan jenis kesalahan bersifat jenayah di bawah undang-undang, khususnya kesalahan di bawah seksyen 302 dan seksyen 325 Kanun Keseksaan dibaca bersama seksyen 34 Kanun Keseksaan atau secara alternatif seksyen 107 Kanun yang sama; 

7. Selaras dengan peruntukan seksyen 30(1)(b) Akta Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan 2009 [Akta 700], Suruhanjaya mengesyorkan kepada Pihak Berkuasa Patatertib (PBT) PDRM untuk tindakan tatatatertib dibawa terhadap pegawai dan anggota-anggota yang dikenalpasti di dalam laporan penuh Suruhanjaya yang didapati telah melakukan salah laku seperti mana skop salah laku yang diberikan di bawah seksyen 24 Akta 700; 

8. Selaras dengan peruntukan seksyen 30(1)(c) Akta Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan 2009 [Akta 700], EAIC mengesyorkan kepada Pendakwa Raya (Peguam Negara) bagi pendakwaan jenayah dibawa terhadap pegawai dan anggota PDRM yang didapati telah melakukan salah laku bersifat kesalahan jenayah seperti yang dikenalpasti di dalam laporan penuh siasatan ini.

EAIC juga sebagai tambahan mengemukakan syor dan cadangan berikut kepada PDRM sebagai penambahbaikan dalam usaha meningkatkan kecekapan dan kualiti pengurusan orang tahanan atau orang tangkapan bagi mengelakkan insiden kematian orang tahanan atau orang tangkapan semasa berada di dalam tahanan: 

1. PDRM menambahbaik SOP berkaitan dengan tangkapan. Jika sekiranya orang tangkapan didapati mengalami kecederaan fizikal (walaupun kecederaan nampak seperti tidak serius), maka saspek itu hendaklah dirujuk terus kepada mana-mana Pegawai Perubatan Kerajaan bagi memastikan tahap keseriusan kecederaan serta status kesihatan saspek tersebut; 

2. PDRM mengadakan “refresher course” atau “refresher training” yang berterusan secara berkumpulan dan berperingkat kepada semua lapisan pegawai dan anggota yang terlibat di dalam operasi serbuan/tangkapan untuk memastikan supaya pegawai dan anggota benar-benar memahami dan mengamalkan kehendak serta tatacara yang diperuntukkan dalam kes-kes tangkapan atau operasi yang berkaitan dengan tangkapan;

3. PDRM memperketatkan dan menjalankan pemantauan dengan lebih berkesan ke atas pematuhan oleh pegawai dan anggota PDRM ke atas SOP Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah atau Perintah Tetap khususnya berkaitan soalsiasat ke atas orang tahanan, penyitaan barang kes dan kewajipan menyediakan borang geledah atau borang bongkar. Di dalam perkara ini terdapat SOP yang melarang sebarang penggunaan kekerasan ke atas orang tahanan semasa disoalsiasat (PTKPN A 118); 

4. PDRM mengemaskini SOP yang berkaitan bagi melarang sama sekali manamana pegawai atau anggota dari menggunakan peralatan yang tidak dibenarkan atau peralatan yang bukan dibekalkan oleh PDRM dalam apa-apa operasi tangkapan; dan

Selain itu, EAIC juga mengesyorkan supaya kajian dibuat oleh pihak Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan Jabatan Peguam Negara ke atas kesesuaian untuk meminda peruntukan Kanun Keseksaan dan Akta Keterangan 1950 bagi memasukkan peruntukan anggapan (presumption) yang akan meletakkan beban bukti ke atas pihak yang mempunyai jagaan dan kawalan ke atas orang tahanan sebagai bertanggungan ke atas kecederaan atau kematian orang tahanan sehingga diakaskan atau dibuktikan sebaliknya. Ini akan dapat mengimbangi keadaan di mana monopoli keterangan hanya dimiliki oleh pihak yang melakukan tahanan ke atas orang tahanan atau mangsa bagi kes-kes kejadian kematian dan kecederaan orang tahanan di bawah jagaan mana-mana pihak berkuasa berkaitan.

EAIC berasa kesal ke atas kes-kes kematian tahanan dalam lokap yang berulang kali berlaku dalam negara dan memandang serius kepada perkara ini. Kejadian kematian orang tahanan akibat daripada kecederaan tubuh badan semasa di dalam tempoh tahanan oleh perlakuan salah laku anggota penguat kuasa hendaklah dibasmi sama sekali. Demi menjaga integriti semua pihak, diharapkan syor-syor Suruhanjaya ini diberi perhatian dan tindakan serius oleh semua pihak-pihak yang berkaitan. Untuk mendapatkan butiran lanjut kandungan laporan siasatan ini orang awam boleh mendapat akses melalui laman sesawang EAIC di alamat www.eaic.gov.my.

-TAMAT

DATUK YAACOB BIN HAJI MD. SAM
Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan (EAIC)

Bertarikh 30 Oktober 2015

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Madpet shocked at two undisclosed hangings in 2014 (Malaysiakini)

Madpet shocked at two undisclosed hangings in 2014


Charles Hector, Madpet     Published     Updated     1

Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is shocked by the recent revelation that Malaysia did execute two persons in 2014 for murder, a fact that was disclosed by Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. The de facto law minister said this in a news report (asiaone.com, Nov 29, 2015, ‘Malaysian on S’pore death row: Malaysia mulls abolishing mandatory death sentences’). No information is disclosed as to who and when.

It is most disturbing that these executions seemed to have been carried out in ‘secret’, more so since in 2014, when prior knowledge of impending hangings did result in lives being saved. Our sultans and the government need to be praised for their prompt action that stayed two executions.

We recall the case of Chandran s/o Paskaran, who was convicted for a murder in 2003 and sentenced to death by the Johor Baru High Court in 2008. His execution scheduled for Feb 7, 2014 was known a few days before that date. This knowledge moved concerned persons and groups including the Malaysian Bar to do the needful to try to save a life.

At the eleventh hour, compassion moved the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan of Johor, who intervened and stopped the hanging of Chandran s/o Paskaran.
Then, in March 2014, we have the case of Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon (aka Philip Michael), who was convicted of murder, and was alleged to have been on death row for 18 years, who was scheduled to hang on March 14, 2014.

Yet again, prior notice of impending execution moved people to action. The government of Malaysia, and in particular Nancy Shukri, the de facto law minister, and Abdul Ghani Patail, the then-attorney-general, then acted to obtain a stay of execution.

Chandran s/o Paskaran and Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon (aka Philip Michael) escaped the gallows because people were made aware of the impending executions, which made it possible for them to act and safe lives. In both cases, people knew about the execution dates at the last minute, but hopefully in the future such information will be disclosed much earlier.

Now, if executions are carried out in secret, that opportunity for people and even the government to do the right thing and stop the hanging is lost, and Malaysia extinguishes another human life.

We note that the global trend has been consistently towards abolition, reflected also by the ever increasing support for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolutions since 2007, which also do call for a moratorium of all executions pending abolition. In 2014, being the fifth time for an anti-death penalty Resolution, saw 117 nation states voting in favour, 38 against, 34 abstentions with four absentees.

Every time it was passed, we see the number of countries in favour of abolition of the death penalty growing.

1,022 persons on death row

Minister Nancy Shukri disclosed that as of October 2015, there are 1,022 persons on death row in Malaysia. She also said that there has been no executions for drug offences for a long time.

Madpet is with the minister when she said, “We hope they get their pardons from state rulers...”, and hope that all persons on death row will have their sentence commuted.

Madpet urges that the Malaysian government immediately declare a moratorium on all executions, which will also be in line with the UN General Assembly Resolutions.

In the event, that Malaysia still intends to execute persons, then a reasonable notice should be given to Malaysians, giving us all yet another opportunity to demonstrate our humanity and respect for human life by saving yet another from the hangman’s noose as was done in the case of Chandran s/o Paskaran and Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon.

Madpet also urges that Malaysia to adhere to the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions, which amongst others urges the need to ‘...make available relevant information with regard to their use of the death penalty, inter alia, the number of persons sentenced to death, the number of persons on death row and the number of executions carried out...’, whereby these should be made available promptly.

Madpet welcomes Malaysia’s recent commitment to abolish the mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers, but urges Malaysia to go one step further and abolish the death penalty.


CHARLES HECTOR is a coordinator of Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet).

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Making a change (New Straits Times, 29/11/2015)

Making a change 

By SUZANNA PILLAY - 29 November 2015 @ 11:02 AM 

THE abolition of the mandatory death penalty will benefit Malaysia as it is hoped to prompt the first move towards the abolition of the death penalty, according to Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET). 

In Malaysia, the mandatory death penalty is imposed on serious crimes like murder, treason, certain firearm offences and drug- trafficking. 

 Its use in drug-related offences, particularly, has received much censure from human rights groups and lawyers. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and de facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri had announced that the government planned to abolish the mandatory death penalty for drug-related offences.

“Malaysia’s image will improve with regard to the European Union, which has abolished the death penalty,” says MADPET coordinator Charles Hector.

 “The convicted person will benefit from this. So, now, when evidence emerges in the future showing that the convict is innocent, he will still be alive.” 

Hector says the only thing that a mandatory sentence does is remove the discretion from the courts when it comes to sentencing. 

 “What is preferable is that Parliament only sets the minimum and maximum sentences, and the judge decides on the appropriate sentence based on the circumstances of the case.” 

 He believes that only the maximum limit should be set by law, with the discretion in sentences to be decided by the courts. “Sentencing guidelines already exist, but should new guidelines be introduced, these should be left to the judiciary — maybe with the involvement possibly of the Malaysian Bar and the public prosecutor.” 

Brickfields Asia College general manager and senior lecturer Daniel Abishegam says the proposed abolition tempers the harshness of the current law and shouldn’t impact the successful prosecution of drug-trafficking offences. 

 “As I understand it, the proposal does not intend to interfere with the evidentiary rules and standard of proof required for a prosecution of a drug- related offence.

 “The proposal only seeks to add an element of mercy in certain situation where the judge sees fit. So, the person will still be convicted of the offence. 

However, if the judge is convinced that the convict was merely a low-level functionary and not a dealer, he may exercise his discretion and sentence him to a jail term.” 

Abishegam says the category of people who will benefit from this would be those convicted under the presumption of trafficking under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, but who were in fact not trafficking. 

“They were merely in possession of drugs beyond the permitted amounts. If a judge is convinced of this based on the evidence presented before the court, the judge would then sentence the person to a long jail-term instead of death.

“The judicial discretion involved will be guided by the statute itself or the body of case law that will develop over the years. 

“If Parliament feels that the judicial discretion is being exercised in a way that is too arbitrary, amendments can be made to the act to reduce discretion.

 “However, it is my opinion that judges will be the best persons to decide based on the evidence presented before them and giving them some leeway to exercise mercy is not a bad thing.” 

Taylor’s Law School associate dean (learning and quality) Lai Mun Onn agrees that the proposed amendment, which will increase judicial discretion in sentencing, is a positive move. 

“Sentencing should be left to the judges. Guidelines can be helpful but, at the end of the day, it must not interfere with the judge’s discretion.

“The sentence should correspond with the offence, that is, minor sentences for minor offences. 

If the offence is ‘minor’, the possible harm that could have resulted should be small. 

“The sentence should, however, be sufficient to deter the individual from committing that offence again, as well as send a clear message out that what was done was wrong in the eyes of the law and should not be tolerated. 

The sentence should also help rehabilitate the offender and give him/her a chance to turn from his/her wrong ways.” 

Malaysian Bar Council president Steven Thiru says the restoring of judicial discretion in drug-related offences that presently carry the mandatory death penalty should not adversely impact the prosecution of these offences. 

“The prosecution will still have the burden of proving the elements of the offence to the requisite standard of proof (beyond reasonable doubt).

 “It may well be the case that judges would be more prepared to convict when they have the discretion to impose the appropriate and proportionate punishment for the offence, as opposed to having their hands tied to impose the mandatory death sentence. 

“Increased judicial discretion is a good development and it provides guidelines to help judges with sentencing. 

The establishment of a Sentencing Council to initially study and collate sentences that have been imposed, and then to standardise sentences would help ensure a uniformed, consistent and fair sentencing regime.” - New Straits Times, 29/11/2015

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/11/114419/making-change

Monday, November 30, 2015

MADPET:- WHEN PENDING EXECUTION IS NOT A ‘SECRET’, WE ACT TO SAVE LIVES – MINISTER INFORMS OF 2 WHO WERE HANGED IN 2014, WHICH WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT.(1/12/2015)

Media Statement – 1/12/2015
 
WHEN PENDING EXECUTION IS NOT A ‘SECRET’, WE ACT TO SAVE LIVES – MINISTER INFORMS OF 2 WHO WERE HANGED IN 2014, WHICH WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT.
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) is shocked by the recent revelation that Malaysia did execute 2 persons in 2014 for murder, a fact that was disclosed  by  Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, the de facto Law Minister in a news report (asiaone.com, 29/11/2015, Malaysian on S'pore death row: Malaysia mulls abolishing mandatory death sentences). No information is disclosed as to who and when.

It is most disturbing that these executions seemed to have been carried out in ‘secret’, more so since in 2014, when prior knowledge of impending hangings did result in lives being saved. Our Sultan and the government need to be praised for their prompt action that stayed 2 executions.

We recall the case of Chandran s/o Paskaran, who was convicted for a murder in 2003 and sentenced to death by the Johor Baru High Court in 2008.  His execution scheduled for 7/2/2014 was known a few days before that date. This knowledge moved concerned persons and groups including the Malaysian Bar to do the needful to try safe a life. At the eleventh hour, compassion moved the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan of Johore, who intervened and stopped the hanging of Chandran s/o Paskaran.

Then, in March 2014, we have  the  case of  Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon (aka Philip Michael), who was convicted of murder, and was alleged to have been on death row for 18 years, who was scheduled to hang on 14/3/2014.

Yet again, prior notice of impending execution moved people to action. The Government of Malaysia, and in particular Nancy Shukri, the de facto law Minister, and Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail, the then Attorney General,  then acted to obtain a stay of execution.  

Chandran s/o Paskaran  and Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon (aka Philip Michael) escaped the gallows because people were made aware of the impending executions, which made it possible for them to act and safe lives. In both cases, people knew about the execution dates at the last minute, but hopefully in the future such information will be disclosed much earlier.

Now, if executions are carried out in secret, that opportunity for people and even the government to do the right thing and stop the hanging is lost, and Malaysia extinguishes another human life.

We note that the global trend has been consistently towards abolition, reflected also by the ever increasing support for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolutions since 2007, which also do call for a moratorium of all executions pending abolition. In 2014, being the fifth time for an anti-death penalty Resolution,  saw 117 nation states voting in favour, 38 against, 34 abstentions with 4 absentees. Every time it was passed, we see the number of countries in favour of abolition of the death penalty growing.

Minister Nancy Shukri disclosed that as of October 2015, there are 1,022 persons on death row in Malaysia.  She also said that there has been no executions for drug offences for a long time.

MADPET is with the Minister when she said, ‘We hope they get their pardons from state rulers,..’, and hope that all persons on death row will have their sentence commuted.

MADPET urges that the Malaysian government immediately declare a moratorium on all executions, which will also be in line with the UN General Assembly Resolutions.

In the event, that Malaysia still intends to execute persons, then a reasonable notice should be given to Malaysians, giving  us all yet another opportunity to demonstrate our humanity and respect for human life by saving yet another from the hangman’s noose as was done in the case of Chandran s/o Paskaran  and Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon.

MADPET also urges that Malaysia to adhere to the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions, which amongst others urges the need to ‘…make available relevant information with regard to their use of the death penalty, inter alia, the number of persons sentenced to death, the number of persons on death row and the number of executions carried out,..’, whereby these should be made available promptly.

MADPET welcomes Malaysia’s recent commitment to abolish the mandatory death penalty, but urges Malaysia to go one step further and abolish the death penalty.

Charles Hector
For and on behalf of MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Friday, November 27, 2015

Abolish the mandatory death penalty and restore judicial discretion in sentencing — Bar associations of Malaysia(Malay Mail)

Tuesday November 24, 2015
08:02 PM GMT+8

NOVEMBER 24 — The Malaysian Bar, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and Sabah Law Association are heartened by the reported remarks of the Attorney General, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Haji Mohamed Apandi, that he will propose to the Cabinet that the mandatory death penalty for drug-related offences be abolished.

The three Bar associations of Malaysia also welcome Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department YB Puan Hajah Nancy Shukri’s reported statement that she hopes to table legislative amendments next year for such abolition.

There is great wisdom in leaving the decision on punishment for such offences to the discretion of the Judiciary.  With the abolition of the mandatory death penalty, the Judiciary will have the discretion to sentence a convicted person to either death or imprisonment.  However, concrete action on this issue is long overdue.

At the recent meeting held in conjunction with the Tripartite Bar Games in Miri from November 19 to 21, 2015, the Malaysian Bar, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and Sabah Law Association resolved to jointly urge the Government to give real meaning to the statements it has made, on at least four other occasions over the last five years, regarding its willingness to review the mandatory death penalty.  It has been two years since the Government and the Attorney General’s Chambers informed those present at a dialogue, with Members of Parliament, on discretionary sentencing for capital punishment on November 14, 2013, that they were in the midst of such a review.

Sentencing is part of the cardinal principle of judicial independence, and should always be left to our Judges.  Judges use their experience in hearing cases, take into account the peculiar facts and circumstances of each case, and consider the case comprehensively before meting out punishment.  

Apart from serious questions relating to the efficacy and effectiveness of mandatory death sentences as a means of deterrence, the resort to mandatory sentences is an unnecessary fetter on judicial discretion, and an unwarranted impediment to the administration of justice.

The mandatory death penalty, including for drug-related offences, has no place in a society that values human life, justice and mercy. The abolition of this extreme, degrading and inhumane form of punishment is consonant with the belief that every individual has an inherent right to life. This right is absolute, universal and inalienable, irrespective of any crimes that may have been committed.

Moreover, there appears to be no significant reduction in the crimes for which the death penalty is currently mandatory. Further, a major survey on the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia in July 2013, found that there is very little public support in Malaysia for the mandatory death penalty for drug-related offences.

In light of the impending review of the mandatory death penalty for drug-related offences, the Government should, in the interest of justice, declare and implement an immediate official moratorium on any and all executions in such cases. All of these sentences should be stayed pending the results of the review. It is unfair and unjust to carry out the death sentence when there is currently a possibility of reform which, if effected, should apply retrospectively.

The Malaysian Bar, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and Sabah Law Association are also extremely concerned over the case of Kho Jabing, a Sarawakian currently on death row in Singapore. 

The Singapore courts had initially imposed the mandatory death penalty on him, for murder. However, pursuant to amendments to the law in Singapore that abolished the mandatory death penalty for murder (with retrospective effect), he was resentenced by the High Court to life imprisonment and whipping (24 strokes). The prosecution appealed, and the Court of Appeal, by a slim 3-2 majority, reinstated the death penalty.

Kho Jabing was scheduled to be executed on November 6, 2015, after his petition to the President of Singapore for clemency failed. However, the execution has been temporarily stayed pending the hearing and disposal of his application to review and set aside the sentence. In the event the application fails and the death sentence on Kho Jabing is maintained, the Malaysian Bar, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and Sabah Law Association call on the Malaysian Government to support any further application for clemency, and urge it to do its utmost to intercede with the Singaporean authorities to commute Kho Jabing’s death sentence to one of life imprisonment.

The Malaysian Bar, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and Sabah Law Association support all efforts by the Malaysian Government towards abolishing the mandatory death penalty. In this regard, the immortal words of the late Justice Ishmael Mohamed, the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, should not be forgotten:

Death is different. The dignity of all of us, in a caring civilisation, must not be compromised by the act of repeating, albeit for a wholly different objective, what we find to be so repugnant in the conduct of the offender in the first place.

* Issued on behalf of the respective Bar associations of Malaysia by Steven Thiru, President, Malaysian Bar; Leonard Shim, President, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak; and Brenndon Soh,President, Sabah Law Association.

** This is the personal opinion of the writers and/or the organisations in whose name they represent and does not necessarily represent the view of Malay Mail Online.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/abolish-the-mandatory-death-penalty-and-restore-judicial-discretion-in-sent#sthash.nKUzf1ei.dpuf

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Abolishing of mandatory death penalty hailed(Malaysiakini)

Abolishing of mandatory death penalty for traffickers hailed


Charles Hector, Madpet     Published     Updated     0

Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is happy to note that Nancy Shukri, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and also the de facto Law Minister, was reported as stating that the proposal to amend laws to abolish the mandatory death sentence for drug traffickers may be tabled in Parliament as early as March next year. (The Malay Mail, Nov 17, 2015).

The Malaysian government has since 2010 announced its willingness to relook at the mandatory death penalty, with a view to its possible abolition or the reintroduction of a discretionary death penalty, and finally in 2016 we may see this becoming reality.

Last week, attorney-general Apandi Ali also did commit to propose to the cabinet that the mandatory death penalty be scrapped (The Malaysian Insider, Nov 13, 2015). Apandi, who is also the public prosecutor, said that “...mandatory death sentences were a ‘paradox’, as it robbed judges of their discretion to impose sentences on convicted criminals...”

There are currently 1,022 persons on death row, based on the government’s written reply to Member of Parliament M Kulasegaran dated Nov 3.

The reply also stated that from 1998 till Oct 6, 2015, 33 persons were executed in Malaysia.

It is not clear as to how many persons have been executed, if any, after Dec 18, 2007, the date the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging “a moratorium on executions” pending abolition.

On Dec 18, 2014, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) reaffirmed for the fifth time since 2007 the urging for a stop of all executions. In 2014, 117 nation states voted in favour, 38 against, 34 abstention with 4 absentees. Every time the said resolution had been adopted, the number of votes in favour has been increasing. The global trend continues to be for abolition.

Madpet hopes that Malaysia, being a member of the United Nations, has been in compliance with this UN General Assembly Resolution and there have been no executions for many years.

The urging for the abolition of the death penalty in Malaysia has been made by many individuals, bodies and civil society organisations including Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Malaysian Bar and Madpet.

It is also good news that Malaysia had commuted the sentence of 127 persons on death row since 1998. Madpet urges that the sentence of all persons currently on death row be commuted.

In tabling the amendments that will bring about an end of the mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers, Madpet urges that provisions be included to allow the court to review the death sentence of all those currently on death row by reason that the offence under which they were convicted carried the mandatory death penalty. Alternatively, all their sentences could be commuted to life imprisonment or imprisonment until end of natural life.

Madpet appreciates this first step, and urges Malaysia to abolish the death penalty for drug traffickers.

Madpet also urges a moratorium on all executions pending abolition.

Madpet also urges Malaysia to urge Asean to abolish the death penalty.

CHARLES HECTOR is a coordinator of Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet).
 
 
See also:-
 

Timely move to abolish mandatory death penalty – MADPET (Malaysian Insider)

Timely move to abolish mandatory death penalty – Madpet

Madpet (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) is happy to note that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri, who is also the de facto Law Minister, was reported saying that the proposal to amend laws to abolish the mandatory death sentence may be tabled in Parliament as early as March next year.

The Malaysian government has since 2010 announced its willingness to relook at the mandatory death penalty, with a view to its possible abolition or the reintroduction of a discretionary death penalty, and finally in 2016 we may see this becoming reality.

Last week, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali also did commit to propose to the Cabinet that the mandatory death penalty be scrapped. Apandi Ali, who is also the Public Prosecutor, said that "... mandatory death sentences were a 'paradox', as it robbed judges of their discretion to impose sentences on convicted criminals...."

There are currently 1,022 persons on death row, based on the government's written reply to Member of Parliament M. Kulasegaran dated November 3. The reply also stated that from 1998 till October 6, 2015, 33 persons were executed in Malaysia. It is not clear as to how many persons have been executed, if any, after December 18, 2007, the date the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution calling for "a moratorium on executions" pending abolition.

On December 18, 2014, UNGA reaffirmed for the fifth time since 2007 the call for a stop of all executions. In 2014, 117 nations voted in favour, 38 against, 34 abstention with 4 absentees.

Every time the said resolution had been adopted, the number of votes in favour has been increasing. The global trend continues to be for abolition.

Being a member of the UN, Madpet hopes that Malaysia has been in compliance with this UNGA Resolution and there have been no executions for many years.

The call for the abolition of the death penalty in Malaysia has been made by many individuals, bodies and civil society organisations including Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), the Malaysian Bar and Madpet.

It is also good news that Malaysia had commuted the sentence of 127 persons on death row since 1998. Madpet urges that the sentence of all persons currently on death row be commuted.

In tabling the amendments that will bring about an end to the mandatory death penalty, Madpet urges that provisions be included to allow the court to review the death sentence of all those currently on death row by reason that the offence under which they were convicted carried the mandatory death penalty.

Alternatively, all their sentences could be commuted to life imprisonment or imprisonment until end of natural life.

Madpet appreciates this first step, and calls on Malaysia to abolish the death penalty.
 
 Madpet also calls for a moratorium on all executions pending abolition.
 
Madpet also calls on Malaysia to urge Asean to abolish the death penalty. – November 18, 2015.
 
* This is the personal opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
 
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/timely-move-to-abolish-mandatory-death-penalty-madpet#sthash.sVgZdfr0.dpuf 

See also:-

Government should look into fully abolishing death penalty, says Suhakam and MADPET(Rakyat Post)

MADPET Glad That Malaysia will abolish the Mandatory Death Penalty in 2016