KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 — Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to ensure Malaysian Hemakavin Karthigesu, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence for drug trafficking in Cambodia, is brought home safely.

The human rights watchdog also urged Anwar to bring up the issue with the Cambodian government during his official visit to the Asean country at the end of this month.

"On behalf of Hemakavin’s family, Suaram demands that the Malaysian government employ all bilateral diplomatic avenues available to bring about justice for Hemakavin.

"Specifically in two ways: Appeal for a royal pardon from Cambodian monarch for Hemakavin that will either reduce his prison sentence or secure his full release, and reach an agreement with the Cambodian government to bring Hemakavin home via an International Prisoner Transfer Programme,” said Suaram’s executive director Sevan Doraisamy in a press conference here today.

Also present were former Klang MP Charles Santiago who had raised this matter in Parliament in July 2019, Hemakavin’s father, Karthigesu Muniyandy, and lawyer Farida Mohd.

Charles said that the case should be reviewed due to the possible element of human trafficking.

"This is a case of human trafficking where a young man was deceived with the purpose of using as a mule or whatever the case it may be for the purposes of profit.

"I think this is a question for the government of Malaysia in looking at the problem from a human trafficking angle.

"If that’s the case, then they should order the immediate release of Hemakavin,” said Charles.

Karthigesu then said he had exhausted all avenues attempting to secure his son’s release over the past seven years and appealed to the government to intervene.

"Twenty-five years of his life will go in vain if he sits in prison and no government officials here have taken any action for me.

"I hope this new government will help me because he only went there for travel but was duped by a criminal syndicate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Farida said she suspected there might have been a miscarriage of justice as not all evidence was fully presented during court proceedings.

She said that key witnesses such as investigating and raiding officers, and individuals related to the case were not called to testify in court.

"We gather from the father who was present at the court that the lawyer was also not fluent in English and Hemakavin was having difficulty communicating with the lawyers and the authorities.

"And there is doubt whether the language or the charges were properly explained and understood by Hemakavin,” she said.

According to Suaram, in 2016, Hemakavin was offered a free trip to Cambodia by his then girlfriend, but she informed him that he would have to leave for Cambodia first due to technical issues with her ticket.

Upon arriving in Cambodia, Hemakavin was contacted by a stranger who introduced himself as his girlfriend’s friend and asked Hemakavin to check into the Mekong View Tower Hotel.

Hemakavin was arrested by Cambodian authorities as soon as he reached the appointed room.

He was then charged, along with another Malaysian national Mohamad Ridzuan Ramli, with possessing, transporting, or trafficking illegal drugs at Phnom Penh International Airport.

According to Suaram, Cambodian police officers instructed Hemakavin to hold a metal box for a photo of him to be taken.

He was then put on trial and his fingerprint on the said metal box which contained 2,016.8 grams of cocaine was presented as court evidence.

Both Hemakavin and Mohamad Ridzuan were found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in jail and a fine of 40 million riel (RM45,000).

Hemakavin’s request to appeal to Cambodia’s Court of Appeal was dismissed.