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Rights of Family of Nagaenthran to be hanged on 10/11/2021 Violated Due to Short Notice and Covid-19 Restrictions - MADPET
Rights of person-to-be-hanged’s family violated due to the short notice given
MALAYSIANS Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET) is appalled by the short two-week notice given to family of Nagaenthran Dharmalingam who is due for execution for drug trafficking at Singapore’s Changi Prison on Nov 10.
It is only just and morally responsible that family and friends of persons to be executed –including children involved – be accorded an opportunity and the right to say final good-byes to a loved one before he dies, according to MADPET co-founder Charles Hector.
“The ‘to be executed’ may be guilty but let’s not forget the rights of the family and friends of him/her who are innocent victims of the situation which Singapore has full control,” Hector pointed out in a statement.
Nagaenthran’s family was informed via a letter dated Oct 26 that his sentence will be carried out on Nov 10.
“Travelling from Malaysia into Singapore during this pandemic is highly restricted, as is the case of cross-border travel across the world,” lamented Hector.
“A perusal of Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) website suggests that the only available travel option for family and friends in Malaysia of the soon-to-be hanged Nagaenthran seem to be under the ‘Death & Critical Illness Emergency Visit’ (DCEV) option.”
Hector also cried foul that it is unjust for the DCEV pass to be made available for just two persons which means many family members and friends will not be able to even enter Singapore, let alone get permission to have a last visit with the soon to be executed.
In this regard, MADPET has called on Singapore to immediately vacate the execution date of Nov 10 by fixing a much later date to give a longer notice period to enable all family members and friends the right to visit Nagaenthran for the last time.
In a related development, Hector also reiterated the calls by the Malaysian Bar, the Advocates Association of Sarawak, the Sabah Law Society and many other groups who have raised the issue of ‘mental disability’ associated with Nagaenthran.
Nagaenthran’s mental capacity had diminished ever since he was convicted and he has been diagnosed with a borderline intellectual disability with an IQ of 69.
“As such, MADPET calls for Singapore to review Nagaenthran’s death
sentence in light of the revelation of his mental illness and
intellectual disability, and take into consideration acquittal or
commutation of the death penalty to imprisonment,” added Hector. – Nov 4, 2021, Focus Malaysia
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