PETALING JAYA: Two Malaysian death-row prisoners in Singapore have cited shocking allegations of brutal execution methods at Changi Prison in their bid to get a stay of execution from the High Court.
-Advertisement-
Datchinamurthy Kataiah and Gobi Avedian, sentenced to death for drug trafficking, cited a statement by Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) last month, in which it was alleged that Singapore prison officers were instructed to kick the back of a prisoner’s neck with great force to break it if the rope broke during a hanging.
The Singapore government has rubbished the claims, with authorities invoking its anti-fake news law and threatening to block websites carrying the report.
Datchinamurthy, 34, and Gobi, 31, who were sentenced to death in 2015 and 2018 respectively, said they feared if the rope broke during their hanging, they could suffer the brutal execution method.
The duo is also seeking a court order to protect a former prison officer who according to LFL had leaked the alleged extralegal execution methods, so that he could shed light on the allegations.
-Advertisement-
But ST reported that Singapore’s Attorney-General’s Chambers has rejected immunity from prosecution for the former prison officer.
Last month, LFL sued Singapore’s home minister after he instructed the group to publish the government’s denial alongside its claims, invoking the republic’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act.
LFL said Singapore has no jurisdiction to interfere with the rights of Malaysian citizens to freedom of expression. -FMT