KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Amnesty International Malaysia urged the Singapore president or prime minister today to grant clemency to Kho Jabing who is due to hang later today after the Sarawakian failed to stay his execution.
Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni said Kho and his family had suffered continuous “mental anguish” as he was sentenced to death, re-sentenced to life imprisonment and then sentenced to death again.
“For the past six years, Kho Jabing’s lawyers have mounted a series of appeals challenging his death sentence. At different stages of his appeals, he has been variously sentenced to death, resentenced to life imprisonment and caning, and sentenced to death once more.
“It is unfathomable and utterly cruel, the ordeal Kho Jabing’s family had been put through for the past six years,” Shamini said in a statement.
Kho’s execution was scheduled for this morning but he was given an 11th hour lifeline after the Singapore courts allowed to stay his execution to hear an appeal from his lawyer.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal this morning, and Kho is due to hang later today.
“An execution at this juncture would only mean that Singapore has taken a step back towards being in the ranks of countries that have abolished this cruel and inhumane form of punishment. Additionally, we might be witnessing a strong case where miscarriage of justice might be taking place,” said Shamini.
“Despite the Apex Court’s latest decision to dismiss Kho Jabing’s appeal, either the President or the Prime Minister of Singapore can step in once and for all to put an end to this ongoing fiasco by immediately granting Kho Jabing clemency,” she added.
Kho was sentenced to death six years ago after he was convicted of killing a man during a robbery attempt.
In 2013, the 31-year-old Sarawakian managed to get the sentence reduced to life imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane, but the Singapore prosecution appealed and his death sentence was reinstated.
