Singapore lawyers to review death penalty

LazerLordz SG

Asia-Pacific News

Singapore lawyers to review death penalty
Jan 13, 2006, 11:58 GMT

SINGAPORE, Singapore (UPI) -- Singapore`s Law Society said Friday it planned to review the country`s controversial use of the death penalty and make recommendations to the government.

Society President Philip Jeyaretnam said a committee of lawyers would study the legal issues to explore whether the death penalty should be left to judges` discretion or even abolished, The Australian reported.

The death penalty is mandatory in Singapore for certain crimes, including murder and drug trafficking.

The December hanging of a 25-year-old Australian, Van Tuong Nguyen, for drug trafficking caused an international outcry, backed up by local civil rights groups who want mandatory capital punishment abolished.

The eight-member legal review committee could take up to nine months to complete its work, Jeyaretnam said.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

alwaysdisturbed SG

dis is bad…

LazerLordz SG

I believe they will push to give judicial authority back to the judges.The death penalty will stay, but I believe the Court of Appeal will have the final say.

This is needed for our judiciary to mature, and ensure judicial authority in a Westminster system is not already weakened further by parliamentary legislation created by a executive which also makes up the majority of the legislature.

alwaysdisturbed SG

even if they dun throw it back they wun b able to make the decision too rite?

ShutterBug SG

Even if they can't do away with this Death Penalty, they SHOULD at least change the method to Lethal Injection.

But still, it is better to not KILL (or EXECUTE).

Perhaps, reserve execution for extreme crimes.

LazerLordz SG

Can you elaborate?

Are you referring to the fact that the judges can't have the final say in the death penalty or that the Law Society can't do much? Confused

charlize SG

Both. Laughing

LazerLordz SG

As I was saying, one of the best things they could do is to recommend a legislative amendment to remove mandatory sentencing and let the Supreme Court have the final say in all capital crimes.

charlize SG

The Law Society can recommend all it wants.

But at the end of the day, any new law or law amendments have to be passed through Parliament.

So who do you think has the final say? Laughing

fudgester SG

I'm sad to admit that I agree with you on this.... Confused

LazerLordz SG

Clout my friend, clout.The Law Society is made up of influential lawyers and MPs.

There is an air of change, if you can feel it.Parliament needs to look ahead and understand what is in the long-term interest of Singapore, especially in the international arena.The trend today is for nations to fall in line towards international standards as far as possible without compromising national interests.

In fact, it is known that Singapore advocates the strengthening of international law.So that makes one plausible factor that speaks for this evolution.Keeping the death penalty will sooth the conservatives, while empowering the judiciary will strengthen our democratic institutions and also improve our image as a whole.

oxford mushroom SG

The USA is the most influential nation in the world...and they have more executions than Singapore.

alwaysdisturbed SG

dat was wat i was tryin to ask...

The Count of Monte-Cristo SG

because they have more people lah bodok.Of course rite everything s more in US than here.

The Count of Monte-Cristo SG

There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Fatum SG

Originally posted by The Count of Monte-Cristo:
There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.

- [b] Mahatma Gandhi[/b]

yes of course ... but if that court was effective ... there wouldn't be a need for any courts of justice then, would it ? ..... Rolling Eyes

iveco SG

Sadly, the USA is also the world's biggest hypocrite. Crying or Very sad