Singapore Allows 25-Year-Old Malaysian Drug Trafficker To 'Live' Again
In 2009, Malaysia was shocked when Singapore sentenced Sabah boy Yong Vui Kong to death for drug trafficking. In the 6 years of being on death row, Yong has tried appealed to overturn the death sentence thrice, but to no avail. Finally, sun shines in Yong's dark life today as Singapore made a surprising move to save his life.
By Mei Mei Chu — 15 Nov 2013, 12:53 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
For The First Time Ever, Singapore Has Lifted The Death Penalty Given To A Drug Trafficker
The wealthy city-state of Singapore has for the first time lifted the death penalty given to a drug trafficker, commuting his sentence to life in prison and 15 strokes of the cane.
abnxcess.com
Singapore has hanged hundreds of people – including dozens of foreigners – for narcotics offences in the last two decades, Amnesty International and other groups say.
abnxcess.com
Malaysian Yong Yui Kong Was Sentenced To Death By Hanging In 2009 After He Was Caught With 47.27g Of Heroin In 2007
Yong, 25, from Sabah, was sentenced to death after he was convicted on Jan 7, 2009, for trafficking 47gm of a controlled drug diamorphine on June 13, 2007, a capital offence under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act.
thestar.com.myYong, from Malaysia's Sabah state, was arrested in 2007 when he was 19. He was sentenced to hang in 2008, but appealed to overturn the decision at least three times.
25-Year-Old Yong's Death Row Has Been Reduced To Life Imprisonment And 15 Strokes Of The Cane
Yong Vui Kong has become the first drug trafficker on death row in Singapore to have his sentence reduced to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane, under amendments made to the Misuse of Drugs act.
themalaysianinsider.com
Justice Choo Says He Was Satisfied That Yong Was Only A Courier And Was Not A Part Of The Wider Supply And Distribution Process
To escape the death penalty, the men had to prove to the court “on a balance of probabilities” that they only played the role of couriers whose involvement was restricted to transporting, sending or delivering a controlled drug.
themalaysianinsider.com
High court judge Justice Choo Han Teck said this morning he was satisfied that the 25-year-old Malaysian has met the requirements of being only a courier under the amended law.
themalaysianinsider.com
Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian who was sentenced to hang in 2009, was spared the gallows on Thursday after a judge ruled he was satisfied that he had acted as a drug courier, rather than having a wider part in the supply or distribution of narcotics.
reuters.com
Justice Choo Says He Was Satisfied That Yong Was Only A Courier And Was Not A Part Of The Wider Supply And Distribution Process
Image via wordpress.comYong Had Also Substantially Helped Their Drug Enforcement Agencies To Combat Drug Trafficking Activities Within And Outside The Country
According to a statement by the Singapore Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) in September, Yong and Subashkaran Pragasam, a Singaporean on death row, have assisted the Central Narcotics Bureau in disrupting drug trafficking activities within and outside Singapore.
thestar.com.my
Under Singapore Law, Trafficking More Than 15g Of Heroin Brings A Mandatory Death Sentence
Singapore has some of the toughest anti-drugs laws in the world, and its customs forms warn arriving travelers of "death for drug traffickers" in no uncertain terms.
But reforms that came into effect this year gave judges discretion on certain cases.
reuters.com
Under Singapore Law, Trafficking More Than 15g Of Heroin Brings A Mandatory Death Sentence
Image via wordpress.comEver Since Yong Was Condemned To Death, Malaysian And International Groups Have Protested Against Singapore's Death Penalty, Calling It A Violation Of Human Rights
Ever Since Yong Was Condemned To Death, Malaysian And International Groups Have Protested Against Singapore's Death Penalty, Calling It A Violation Of Human Rights
Image via mkini.net
Yong's Lawyer Says This Is The Happiest Day Of Yong's Life
Yong's lawyer, M Ravi, told media that Yong "has repented".
"This is the happiest day of my client's life. He feels intense gratitude towards all those who have worked so hard to save him from being executed," Mr Ravi was reported by Agence-France Presse news agency as saying.
“Yong has seen the error of his ways and has repented. He is happy to have his life back again,” he added.
themalaysianinsider.com
Since being imprisoned, Yong has turned a new leaf, taking up Buddhism and spending a lot of time on prayer and meditation. He has also become a vegetarian and taken a new name, Nan Di Li, from the Buddhist Dharma.
thestar.com.my
Amnesty International Says This Is The First Time In History For Singapore To Commute A Death Sentence Under Its Drug Laws
“This is a landmark ruling, and possibly the first time in history that someone sentenced to death under Singapore’s draconian drugs laws has had their sentence commuted,” said Roseann Rife, Amnesty International’s East Asia Research Director.
“Yong Vui Kong should never have had to suffer through six years on death row for a non-lethal offence which doesn’t warrant a death sentence under international law. He must also be spared the 15 cane strokes, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.”
“It is now up to the Singapore authorities to build on today’s ruling and start a genuine debate on the death penalty, with the view to its eventual abolition. Hopefully other commutations will follow and the moratorium on executions established in 2012 will be extended indefinitely. Singapore should put an end to mandatory death sentences for drug crimes once and for all,” said Rife.
Last Year, Singapore Amended Its Laws On The Mandatory Death Sentence For Murder And Drugs
Yong's reprieve comes after the squeaky clean state announced changes to its drug rules late last year and allowed judges to impose life sentences and caning on couriers who help the authorities tackle drug trafficking.
reuters.com
Those convicted of drug trafficking can have their sentences commuted if they aid police and acted merely as couriers, according to the latest changes.
So far five murderers on death row have had their sentences changed this year since the law was amended.
reuters.com
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/3/15/1268673678046/Changi-prison-where-Singa-001.jpg
Image via guim.co.ukSingapore's Deputy PM Says The Capital Punishment For Drug Traffickers Will Not Go Away Anytime Soon
However, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean told parliament last year that capital punishment was not going away.
"In particular, the mandatory death penalty will continue to apply to all those who manufacture or traffic in drugs - the kingpins, producers, distributors, retailers - and also those who fund, organize or abet these activities," he said.
reuters.com
Singapore's Deputy PM Says The Capital Punishment For Drug Traffickers Will Not Go Away Anytime Soon
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