Oct. 24
MALAYSIA:
Cabinet to get proposal to defer sentences of those on death row for drug
trafficking
Some 700 locals and foreigners on death row for drug trafficking may get a
reprieve on their sentences, pending a study to abolish the death penalty for
the offence, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed
Nazri Aziz said Wednesday.
He said a proposal to defer the sentences will be submitted to the Cabinet for
approval on the moratorium.
Nazri said this was a necessary move pending a review by the Attorney-General
for the abolishment of the death sentence for conviction under Section 52(1) of
the Dangerous Drugs Act.
He said there were 75 Indonesians and some 600 Malaysians on death row for drug
trafficking.
Nazri was speaking to reporters this after meeting up with a delegation of
Indonesian lawmakers in Parliament.
Nazri was reported to have said that one of the main reasons was because there
were about 250 Malaysians arrested as drug mules and sentenced to death abroad,
including in China, Venezuela and Peru.
He has said that it was was difficult to justify appealing to these countries
for clemency when drug traffickers were hit with mandatory death sentences.
Convicted drug traffickers in the country now face the mandatory death sentence
under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
(source: The Star)
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