Latest news with #PannirSelvam
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Singapore court reserves judgment on Malaysian death-row inmate Pannir Selvam's post-appeal application
SINGAPORE, Aug 7 — Malaysian death-row inmate Pannir Selvam Pranthaman gained reprieve when the Singapore Court of Appeal reserved its judgment, following the second hearing on his post-appeal application held on Wednesday. The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) policy on the scheduling of executions came under scrutiny during the proceedings, as Pannir Selvam's counsel and the Attorney-General's Chambers addressed the content of affidavits they submitted after the first hearing on May 7. At the initial hearing, the court observed that Pannir Selvam's request for a stay of execution — pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings arising from his complaint to the Law Society — rested fundamentally on the principle that the MHA's policy on execution scheduling must be applied equally to all. His lawyers argued that the MHA policy applied to him differs from an earlier policy, thereby violating his right to equal treatment under Article 12 of the Constitution. On this, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, who led the five-man bench, stated that Article 12 does not prohibit a state agency from changing its policy. 'Article 12 applies by looking at the current legislation, the current statute, or the current policy, and asking yourself whether that policy is being applied in a way that is unfairly discriminatory,' he said. Pannir Selvam's counsel further argued that the MHA had not provided an explanation for the differing application of its policy between state and non-state proceedings. In their submission, his counsel team argued that the MHA's approach to preserving a prisoner's life had changed. Previously, executions could be delayed if a prisoner's testimony was needed in any legal case. Now, the MHA says delays are only considered if the testimony is needed in a state-led case. 'There have been no reasons provided by the MHA as to why this differential treatment between a state and a non-state proceeding is reasonable,' said counsel Ng Yuan Siang. In response, Deputy Senior State Counsel Terrence Chua said the distinction exists because state-brought proceedings are, by definition, in the public interest. 'It goes beyond the interest of an individual PACP (prisoner awaiting capital punishment), whereas the PACP cannot claim to represent public interest in their private applications. But even then, I pointed out in my affidavit that state-brought applications are still assessed on a case-by-case basis,' he said. The court responded by saying that if the applicant can show that the policy can give rise to an unfair distinction between two categories of persons between whom there is no rational difference, he may be entitled to a finding that the policy offends Article 12. The proceedings, which lasted over an hour, ended with Chief Justice Menon stating that the Court would reserve its judgment. Seated in the dock wearing a purple-coloured prison uniform, Pannir Selvam appeared calm throughout the proceedings in a packed courtroom, which was also attended by his siblings who had arrived from Malaysia earlier in the day. The hearing marks the latest chapter in Pannir Selvam's ongoing legal battle against his death sentence. He was convicted by the High Court on May 2, 2017, for importing not less than 51.84g of diamorphine into Singapore and was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty. Pannir Selvam filed an appeal, but it was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Feb 9, 2018. Together with his family and legal team, he submitted petitions for clemency to the President of Singapore, who subsequently declined to commute the sentence. Pannir Selvam and his family were informed that he would be executed on May 24, 2019. He then filed another application to the Court of Appeal, seeking a stay of execution on the grounds that he intended to challenge both the rejection of his clemency petition and the Public Prosecutor's decision not to issue a Certificate of Substantial Assistance (CSA). The court granted this application on May 23, 2019. Following this, he filed several other judicial review applications. Pannir Selvam received another notice of execution on Feb 16, 2025, for a scheduled execution on Feb 20. He then filed for permission to make a Post-Appeal Application in a Capital Case (PACC), seeking a stay of execution, which was granted on Feb 19. Judge of the Appellate Division Woo Bih Li, in his written judgment, stated that the stay was granted pending the determination of his PACC application. Singapore's PACC Act, which came into effect on June 28, 2024, allows prisoners awaiting capital punishment to make post-appeal applications, which can only be heard by the Court of Appeal. — Bernama
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Singapore court delays judgement on Pannir Selvam's execution appeal
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement on Malaysian death-row inmate Pannir Selvam Pranthaman's post-appeal application. The decision follows a second hearing held on Wednesday, where the Ministry of Home Affairs' execution scheduling policy was closely examined. Pannir Selvam's legal team argued that the policy was applied unequally, violating his constitutional right to equal treatment. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon clarified that Article 12 of the Constitution does not prevent policy changes but ensures they are not unfairly discriminatory. His lawyers contended that the MHA failed to justify why delays in executions were only granted for state-led cases, not private legal proceedings. Deputy Senior State Counsel Terrence Chua defended the policy, stating state proceedings serve public interest, unlike individual cases. The court noted that if the policy creates unfair distinctions without rational basis, it could breach Article 12. After over an hour of arguments, the bench reserved its decision, leaving Pannir Selvam's fate pending. Dressed in a purple prison uniform, Pannir Selvam remained composed as his siblings watched from the public gallery. He was convicted in 2017 for trafficking 51.84g of diamorphine and sentenced to mandatory death. Despite multiple appeals and clemency petitions, his execution was scheduled twice, in 2019 and 2025. The latest stay was granted under Singapore's PACC Act, allowing post-appeal applications for capital cases. - Bernama
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Singapore court reserves judgement on Pannir Selvam's post-appeal application
SINGAPORE: Malaysian death-row inmate Pannir Selvam Pranthaman gained reprieve when the Singapore Court of Appeal reserved its judgment, following the second hearing on his post-appeal application held on Wednesday. The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) policy on the scheduling of executions came under scrutiny during the proceedings, as Pannir Selvam's counsel and the Attorney-General's Chambers addressed the content of affidavits they submitted after the first hearing on May 7. At the initial hearing, the court observed that Pannir Selvam's request for a stay of execution, pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings arising from his complaint to the Law Society, rested fundamentally on the principle that the MHA's policy on execution scheduling must be applied equally to all. His lawyers argued that the MHA policy applied to him differs from an earlier policy, thereby violating his right to equal treatment under Article 12 of the Constitution. On this, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, who led the five-man bench, stated that Article 12 does not prohibit a state agency from changing its policy. "Article 12 applies by looking at the current legislation, the current statute, or the current policy, and asking yourself whether that policy is being applied in a way that is unfairly discriminatory," he said. Pannir Selvam's counsel further argued that the MHA had not provided an explanation for the differing application of its policy between state and non-state proceedings. In their submission, his counsel team argued that the MHA's approach to preserving a prisoner's life had changed. Previously, executions could be delayed if a prisoner's testimony was needed in any legal case. Now, the MHA says delays are only considered if the testimony is needed in a state-led case. "There have been no reasons provided by the MHA as to why this differential treatment between a state and a non-state proceeding is reasonable," said counsel Ng Yuan Siang. In response, Deputy Senior State Counsel Terrence Chua said the distinction exists because state-brought proceedings are, by definition, in the public interest. "It goes beyond the interest of an individual PACP (prisoner awaiting capital punishment), whereas the PACP cannot claim to represent public interest in their private applications. "But even then, I pointed out in my affidavit that state-brought applications are still assessed on a case-by-case basis," he said. The court responded by saying that if the applicant can show that the policy can give rise to an unfair distinction between two categories of persons between whom there is no rational difference, he may be entitled to a finding that the policy offends Article 12. The proceedings, which lasted over an hour, ended with Chief Justice Menon stating that the Court would reserve its judgment. Seated in the dock wearing a purple-coloured prison uniform, Pannir Selvam appeared calm throughout the proceedings in a packed courtroom, which was also attended by his siblings who had arrived from Malaysia earlier in the day. The hearing marks the latest chapter in Pannir Selvam's ongoing legal battle against his death sentence. He was convicted by the High Court on May 2, 2017, for importing not less than 51.84g of diamorphine into Singapore and was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty. Pannir Selvam filed an appeal, but it was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Feb 9, 2018. Together with his family and legal team, he submitted petitions for clemency to the President of Singapore, who subsequently declined to commute the sentence. Pannir Selvam and his family were informed that he would be executed on May 24, 2019. He then filed another application to the Court of Appeal, seeking a stay of execution on the grounds that he intended to challenge both the rejection of his clemency petition and the Public Prosecutor's decision not to issue a Certificate of Substantial Assistance (CSA). The court granted this application on May 23, 2019. Following this, he filed several other judicial review applications. Pannir Selvam received another notice of execution on Feb 16, 2025, for a scheduled execution on Feb 20. He then filed for permission to make a Post-Appeal Application in a Capital Case (PACC), seeking a stay of execution, which was granted on Feb 19. Judge of the Appellate Division Woo Bih Li, in his written judgment, stated that the stay was granted pending the determination of his PACC application. Singapore's PACC Act, which came into effect on June 28, 2024, allows prisoners awaiting capital punishment to make post-appeal applications, which can only be heard by the Court of Appeal. – Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
06-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Activists renew plea for Singapore to spare Pannir
Activists gathered outside the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur tonight to urge the Singaporean government to commute Malaysian P Pannir Selvam's death sentence. KUALA LUMPUR : A group of about 20 activists have renewed calls for the Malaysian government, as Asean chair, to urge Singapore to commute Malaysian P Pannir Selvam's death sentence. Members of the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (Adpan), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and Amnesty International Malaysia gathered outside the Singapore High Commission here tonight, where they held placards and chanted slogans such as 'Give Pannir a second chance', 'Abolish the death penalty' and 'Free Pannir'. Pannir, a 38-year-old who was sentenced to death in 2017 after being convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore, will appear before the Singapore Court of Appeal at 10am tomorrow for a post-appeal application hearing. Adpan project officer Janice Ananthan urged the Malaysian government to protect its citizens abroad. 'Malaysia has reformed some of our death penalty laws. As Asean chair and Pannir's home country, we call on the government to act,' she said at the rally. Amnesty International campaigner Qistina Johari said Pannir's sister was in Singapore for the hearing, while his parents were in Ipoh. The group also called on the Singapore government to 'end the cruel and inhuman punishment' of the death penalty. NGOs have previously urged Singapore to commute Pannir's sentence and impose a moratorium on executions. Pannir was convicted on June 27, 2017 of trafficking in 51.84gm of diamorphine through the Woodlands checkpoint on Sept 3, 2014. Pannir, who was given a package by a Malaysian to be handed over to a Singaporean man once he arrived in the republic, has consistently denied knowing that the package contained drugs. On Feb 19, he was granted a stay of execution by the Court of Appeal just hours before his scheduled execution. Pannir was also granted a stay of execution in 2019.
South China Morning Post
18-02-2025
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia urged to intervene in Pannir Selvam's execution for drugs in Singapore
Lawmakers in Kuala Lumpur have urged the government to intervene as time runs out for convicted Malaysian Pannir Selvam, who will be executed in Singapore on Thursday for smuggling around 50 grams of heroin into the city state. Pannir, 30, was sentenced to death in 2017 for importing diamorphine – a potent opioid known as medical heroin – into Singapore in 2014. The defence has argued that Pannir was a drug courier and not a trafficker. According to Malaysian lawmakers, Pannir had assisted Singapore authorities, which led to the arrest of a Malaysian recruiter for the drug operation. Singapore's authorities did not issue Pannir a certificate of substantial assistance. If such a certificate is issued to an accused person facing a capital offence after the person has been determined to be a 'courier' and provided substantive assistance, the court has the discretion to sentence the person to life imprisonment with, where applicable, caning. Singapore has a zero-tolerance approach to drug trafficking, a deterrent the city state says has resulted in it having a fraction of drug use issues which beset other Southeast Asian nations. Calls for Malaysia's government to urge Singapore to grant leniency to Pannir have mounted in the past few days.
