Amnesty International has condemned what it fears will be a last-minute execution by hanging of a 34-year-old Malaysian man convicted of murder, an offence that carries a mandatory death sentence.
Malaysia has been criticised for “secretive” executions, where information on scheduled hangings are not made public before, or sometimes after, they are carried out — a practice Amnesty said was contrary to international standards on the use of the death penalty.
The advocacy group said Gunasegar Pitchaymuthu’s mother was told on Wednesday by officials at Taiping prison, in northern Malaysia, that she should visit her son for the “last time” and make arrangements for his funeral. He is due to be hanged on Friday, the group said.
It was not clear if Gunasegar was told of his upcoming execution. When the man’s mother visited him a week ago, neither were aware of the hanging, Amnesty said, adding that families were often informed at very short notice of executions.
The Guardian was unable to immediately reach the government for comment.
“Executing Gunasegar Pitchaymuthu would be a regressive step for human rights in Malaysia,” said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s deputy campaign director for south-east Asia and the Pacific.
“The mandatory death penalty is a clear breach of human rights regardless of the crime committed. The authorities must step in to prevent this brutal act taking place before it is too late, and instead commute Gunasegar’s death sentence.”
Gunasegar and two other men were sentenced to the gallows after they were found guilty by the high court of murdering a 25-year-old man in a playground in 2005.
New law won't be in time to spare Gunasegar
In November, government minister Nancy Shukri, said she hoped to amend the penal code to abolish the death sentence, a decades-old law that is also imposed on serious drug, treason and firearms offences.
“It is not easy to amend, but we are working on it. I hope to table it next year in March,” Nancy told reporters, adding that the punishment had done little to reduce the number of crimes committed.
The Malaysian Prison’s Department said there were currently more than 1,000 inmates awaiting execution, although none have been killed since 2013, according to Death Penalty Worldwide.
“As discussions on abolishing the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia continue, the Malaysian government must immediately put in place a moratorium on all executions as a first step towards full abolition of the death penalty,” said Benedict.
Prime Minister Najib Razak's bodyguard seeking asylum in Australia may be able to return when Malaysia abolishes the death penalty. Sirul Azhar Umar was accused of murdering Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, whom Najib is alleged to have been involved with over the purchase of two exorbitantly-priced Scorpene submarines
- http://www.theguardian.com/
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