Lawyer to call on UN to help save death row inmate
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Agence France Presse
May 10, 2005
SINGAPORE
A SINGAPOREAN lawyer said Tuesday, May 10, he would appeal to the United Nations in a last-ditch attempt to save his client from being executed this week for drug smuggling.
Lawyer M. Ravi told AFP he would lodge a complaint with the UN special rapporteur for extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, claiming that his client, Shanmugam Murugesu, 38, had faced discrimination during his trial.
Citing previous cases in Singapore where drug traffickers committing similar offences were let off with prison sentences, Ravi said there was an urgent need to retry the case to prevent a "miscarriage of justice".
"I am certainly desperate to save his life, as a doctor to his patient, as a counsel to his client," he told a press conference, adding he would ask the UN to urge Singapore authorities to stay the execution.
Ravi said he had served a separate notice on Tuesday to Singapore President Sellapan Ramanathan Nathan, who last week rejected a clemency appeal, pleading that the case be reopened for him to submit new arguments to court.
Murugesu, a former star athlete who was convicted of trying to import 1,029.8 grams (36 ounces) of cannabis, was convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court in April last year.
Authorities have told his relatives he will be hanged at Changi Prison on Friday, according to a local human rights group, the Think Centre.
Civil rights activists in Singapore are using Murugesu's case to mount a rare public campaign to abolish the death penalty.
The government, which orders the media to report in the "national interest", normally ensures the issue stays out of the headlines in Singapore.
Amnesty International says Singapore has the highest per capita execution rate in the world, with more than 400 people killed between 1991 and 2003. -
According to the Straits Times today, the President has rejected the 11th hour appeal to convene a constitutional court. I don't think the UN will be able to do anything about the execution; our government is already used to having international organisations petition against the death panalty here. The die has been cast.
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Amazing..Singapore has the highest per capita execution rate in the world, with more than 400 people killed between 1991 and 2003
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I really pity the two sons. If they become terrorists and stage a suicide attack on the MIW HQ (somewhere in BDK) on election eve and wipe out half the cabinet, triggering a Madrid-style reaction from the voters to usher in a new ruling party, I won't be surprised at all.
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so exaggerating. skyline63 gave you the inspiration?Originally posted by iveco:I really pity the two sons. If they become terrorists and stage a suicide attack on the MIW HQ (somewhere in BDK) on election eve and wipe out half the cabinet, triggering a Madrid-style reaction from the voters to usher in a new ruling party, I won't be surprised at all. 
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Before, they can bomb anything the ppl from ISA has already invite them to lim kopi liaoOriginally posted by iveco:I really pity the two sons. If they become terrorists and stage a suicide attack on the MIW HQ (somewhere in BDK) on election eve and wipe out half the cabinet, triggering a Madrid-style reaction from the voters to usher in a new ruling party, I won't be surprised at all. 
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where do you get the stats from ?Originally posted by BonJovi:Amazing..Singapore has the highest per capita execution rate in the world, with more than 400 people killed between 1991 and 2003 -
yap rite!!Originally posted by iveco:I really pity the two sons. If they become terrorists and stage a suicide attack on the MIW HQ (somewhere in BDK) on election eve and wipe out half the cabinet, triggering a Madrid-style reaction from the voters to usher in a new ruling party, I won't be surprised at all.
u must be one of the two sons
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i feel sorry for the death and the family.
heavy drug trafficking is more serious then killing a people in singapore. killing a people still have life sentence, trafficking sure death penalty .
but i agree with the strict law(death) for drug trafficking. -
That's Kerry-esque.It's not possible to feel sorry for his family yet agree that he must hang.
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There are lots of such stats online, but i do not know their reliability, especially since the govt never releases such data. Just search for 'death penalty singapore' or something on Google.Originally posted by crazy monkey:where do you get the stats from ? -
Lee Kuan Yew said in a speech.
"In criminal law legislation, our priority is the security and well being of law-abiding citizens rather than the rights of the criminal to be protected from incriminating evidence."
so if you want to speak 'human right' for criminal, then what about the 'human right' of the victims?? -
It only opens the justice system to interference from the top. Anyway, don't talk about criminal cases. A look at LKY's record in defafation suits and you will know what kind of judiciary we have.Originally posted by kingofbeholder:Lee Kuan Yew said in a speech.
"In criminal law legislation, our priority is the security and well being of law-abiding citizens rather than the rights of the criminal to be protected from incriminating evidence."
so if you want to speak 'human right' for criminal, then what other the 'human right' of the victims?? -
dont digress. this thread is about death row for drug trafficking, nothing to do with defamation suit.Originally posted by TIB1133B:It only opens the justice system to interference from the top. Anyway, don't talk about criminal cases. A look at LKY's record in defafation suits and you will know what kind of judiciary we have. -
Both are still about the justice system. The rich and powerful always win, whether they are in the right or wrong, in criminal or civil suits.Originally posted by dragg:dont digress. this thread is about death row for drug trafficking, nothing to do with defamation suit.
Don't forget the Bhatia guy managed to get his sentence slashed even though the government practices a harsh policy on drugs. If he were born of a farmer, I bet he would have got it worse. -
there are no farmer in singapore , so it wont be worst .Originally posted by TIB1133B:Both are still about the justice system. The rich and powerful always win, whether they are in the right or wrong, in criminal or civil suits.
Don't forget the Bhatia guy managed to get his sentence slashed even though the government practices a harsh policy on drugs. If he were born of a farmer, I bet he would have got it worse. -
He will be hanged tml...
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i dont know about this case in detail. but there is no denying that the rich and powerful always have advantage over the poor and weak. this is not something exclusive to singapore. it is universal.Originally posted by TIB1133B:Both are still about the justice system. The rich and powerful always win, whether they are in the right or wrong, in criminal or civil suits.
Don't forget the Bhatia guy managed to get his sentence slashed even though the government practices a harsh policy on drugs. If he were born of a farmer, I bet he would have got it worse. -
Agree and concur.Originally posted by TIB1133B:Both are still about the justice system. The rich and powerful always win, whether they are in the right or wrong, in criminal or civil suits.
Don't forget the Bhatia guy managed to get his sentence slashed even though the government practices a harsh policy on drugs. If he were born of a farmer, I bet he would have got it worse. -
give mi 5~Originally posted by dragg:i dont know about this case in detail. but there is no denying that the rich and powerful always have advantage over the poor and weak. this is not something exclusive to singapore. it is universal. -
So sad.. so much for equality.
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when is there ever equality?
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Really pity the soon-to-be orphans and the anguish they must be feeling now.
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we must all learn from this lesson. always think twice before doing anything drastic.
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Originally posted by TIB1133B:
Anybody ever noticed the figure of Justice is always the image of a blindfolded woman with sword in one hand and scales in the other?
Both are still about the justice system. The rich and powerful always win, whether they are in the right or wrong, in criminal or civil suits.
Don't forget the Bhatia guy managed to get his sentence slashed even though the government practices a harsh policy on drugs. If he were born of a farmer, I bet he would have got it worse.
Many could interpret the meaning of the blindfold, the sword and the scales, but has anybody wondered why the image is a woman and not a man?
Some believe the portrayal of a woman to represent Justice could be traced to Themis, the Greek goddess of justice and law. Some, on the other hand, prefer to believe Justice is portrayed as a woman because of a certain possibility -- that no matter how thick the blindfold could be, no matter how fair Justice aspires to be, there is a chance that miscarriage of Justice could still occur.
No justice system in any country is ever perfect, because judgment is always made by a human or a group of humans. There would always be humans whose rationale could be tampered by emotions, whose righteousness could be swayed by rhetoric, and whose morals could be purchased by money and fear of power.