Convicted robber Yong to be hanged tomorrow
Amnesty International Malaysia criticises the authorities for keeping the family in the dark over the clemency appeal.
PETALING JAYA: Amnesty International Malaysia today criticised the authorities for keeping families of death row inmates in the dark regarding their appeals for clemency.
Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said the family of Yong Kar Mun, 48, was not informed that the Selangor Pardons Board had rejected Yong’s clemency application.
“Without transparency, how can we ensure due process is followed, particularly when lives are at stake?
“What is happening to Yong and his family is truly shocking.
“It’s unconceivable that those directly affected by the death penalty are kept in the dark about the proceedings in the case.”
Shamini said the family was informed this morning that Yong’s execution would be carried out in less than 12 hours.
“Yong is scheduled to face the noose tomorrow between 5am and 6am unless those with the power to halt the execution do so at the 11th hour,” she said in a statement today.
Yong has been on death row since March 2009. He was sentenced to death under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, which carries the mandatory death penalty, read together with Article 37 of the Penal Code, after being found guilty of discharging a firearm during an armed robbery.
Although no casualties occurred as a result of the robbery, another man involved in the robbery was shot dead during the subsequent police chase.
Yong failed in his appeals to the Court of Appeal on Oct 6, 2011 and Federal Court on Aug 2, 2012.
Amnesty said Yong’s family met him for the last time this morning.
Following this, they met with prison officials who told them to buy Yong a new set of clothes and to make arrangements for his body to be collected immediately after the execution.
“It is an unimaginable thought having to discuss the funeral of someone who is still alive.
“The family members are pleading for clemency now, that Yong be spared the death penalty.
“We join them in their calls and hope that the Malaysian authorities will stop any executions that are to be carried out,” Shamini said.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), in a statement today, added that the mandatory imposition of the death penalty violates the basic right to life as enshrined in international human rights law.
It said such a practice also denies judges the possibility of considering the facts of the offence or the characteristics of each individual offender.
“While discussions on abolishing the mandatory death penalty are ongoing, Suhakam is of the view that a moratorium on the use of the death penalty be put in place, which is in line with the global trend that is changing towards a position in favour of abolition.”
Amnesty wants halt to execution of death row inmate
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