Kota Kinabalu: The Singapore government has been urged to exercise its powers of clemency to commute the death sentence imposed on a mentally challenged Sabahan, Pausi Jefridin.
Pausi was convicted of drug trafficking in Singapore in 2010 and is scheduled to be hanged tomorrow (Wednesday).
On Monday, three legal associations in Malaysia – the Sabah Law Society (SLS), Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and the Bar of the States of Malaya – co-signed two letters, appealing to the city state on the fate of the Sabahan.
SLS President Roger Chin (pic) said one was addressed to Singapore’s President and the other to its Prime Minister.
“Our joint letter did not call for a review of the legal process in Pausi’s case. Our call to the Singapore government is in relation to exercising mercy,” said Chin in a statement.
Pausi is intellectually disabled, having been medically assessed to have an IQ level of 67.
The Singapore courts had decided that his intellectual capacity was not diminished and that he was fully cognisant of his actions and fully appreciated their legal consequences. As such, there was no reason to disturb the finding of guilt and the imposition of the death penalty.
Chin said Singapore has signed and ratified the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
As such, it should give effect to commitments that it has made under the CRPD, including not executing people with intellectual disabilities.
“We sincerely and humbly urge the government of Singapore to give these all the due and necessary consideration.
“Saving the life of Pausi is not about putting the life of an individual ahead of the legitimate concerns of society, but about promoting the values of humanity and forgiveness.
“Any system of justice that is deserving of respect is one that has space for compassion, forgiveness and mercy.
“More, especially, when it involves a person who has been medically diagnosed as being of impaired intellectual ability. That is what is needed at this time,” added Chin.
