Malaysian government considering removing capital punishment for drug offences
Published on Oct 25, 2012
Kedah Customs officials (from left) Azizan Abdullah, P. Jayadevan
Naidu, Abd Aziz Abdul Latif and Yusoff Ibrahim at a press conference on
Wednesday where they displayed synthesised drugs, known as syabu, found
in a hidden compartment of a bag. -- THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
KUALA LUMPUR - As soon as the plane hits the runway in
Malaysia, a flight attendant's cheery voice greets passengers with a
warm welcome. Then comes the not-so-cheery part: a warning that there is
a mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking.
Now a minister says the government is considering removing the death
sentence for drug offences, offering a glimmer of hope to lawyers and
civil liberties groups who have campaigned for years against capital
punishment.
On Wednesday, de facto law minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he
will submit a proposal to the Cabinet to defer the death sentences
passed on 675 convicted drug traffickers in the country, while the
government reviews the death penalty for drug offences.
The majority of drug trafficking arrests are of low-ranking "drug
mules" - smugglers working for drug syndicates - who are more visible
and easily apprehended. Drug kingpins are rarely caught and simply hire
more mules.- The Straits Times, 25/10/2012, Death knell for death penalty in Malaysia?
No comments:
Post a Comment