Second stay of execution for Yong Vui Kong - watch the interview with his lawyer
8 December 2009, 08:00PM
In an unprecedented development, the Court of Appeal in Singapore granted a second stay of execution for Malaysian man Yong Vui Kong, so his appeal can be heard.
Yong Vui Kong was arrested in June 2007, when he was 19, and charged with trafficking 42.27 grams of heroin. He was sentenced to death in January 2009. The President of Singapore rejected Yong Vui Kong's petition for clemency on 1 December.
Yong Vui Kong's lawyer, M. Ravi, has appealed on the grounds that the mandatory death sentence for drug-trafficking, which is set out in the Misuse of Drugs Act, is unconstitutional, and therefore his case should be referred back to the trial judge for "reconsideration."
Those closely involved in working for his stay of execution have said that if it hadn't been for the international pressure, Vui Kong would certainly have been executed.
Thank you to those who sent appeals. Further developments in his case will be available through the Urgent Action Network. To join the Urgent Action Network, please contact your local Action Centre.
Interview with Mr M Ravi, human rights lawyer
Mr M Ravi has been representing Mr Yong Vui Kong. Watch the interview with M. Ravi, talking about the mandatory death penalty in Singapore and why M.Ravi does the work he does in defending death penalty cases in Singapore.
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Comments
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marnling
9 December 2009, 12:11PM
Wow!
Everyone who wrote appeal letters - yay! and let’s keep the pressure up and work towards the worldwide abolition of the death penalty!
M.Ravi: thank you.
Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign (SADPC): i stand in solidarity with you
S.R. Nathan : please do all you can to abolish the death penalty in Singapore.
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