The impending execution of Ridzuan which is scheduled at 6am on Friday is unlawful under article 9(1) of the Singapore Constitution and such planned execution is also in breach of customary international law. As you maybe aware, two Malaysians, namely, Prabagaran and Datchinamurthy are currently facing executions in Singapore for drug trafficking. The have challenged their death sentences in the Malaysian High Court on the ground of breach of fair trial under international law. The matter is now before the Malaysian Court of Appeal. If they succeed in their applications and if the matter ultimately reaches the International Court of justice (ICJ) with a positive outcome, Ridzuan would no longer be alive to benefit from the aforesaid positive outcome. We always hope for the best always bearing in mind that death penalty is irreversible.

Article 9(1) of Singapore constitution states that no one shall be deprived of his life … save in accordance with law. This must mean that it is the duty of the Attorney General to advise the President and the Cabinet to stay Ridzuan’s execution pending the outcome of the legal proceedings in Malaysia which involves the same basis of challenge involving the questions of unfair trial. If the Singapore government has decided to wait for the outcome of the decision in the Malaysian Courts in respect of Parabagaran and Datchinamurthy, then they must then stay the execution of Ridzuan too.

I have alerted my international networks, civil society organisations and our Malaysian counterparts to protest against this unlawful execution of Ridzuan (and Jeffrey who has already been executed). I have been working round the clock on a complaint to the United Nations Rapporteur for Extra judicial killings and Summary Executions.

By midnight, we would ask the intervention of the United Nations to halt this unlawful execution and to take necessary actions against the Singapore state. Singapore could potentially face prosecution in the International Criminal Courts for crime against humanity if they proceed with another unlawful execution (as Jeffrey’s execution on 22rd may also be unlawful) though Singapore is not party to the Rome Statute. I will outline the relevant matters at the Press conference tomorrow.

I urge everyone to stand up and join me in this protest as Rizduan is also our brother (regardless of the crime that he has committed) and he deserves to be treated equally like Praba and Datch and he therefore faces further denial of his constitutional rights under Article 12 of the Singapore Constitution that guarantees equality of treatment before the law. His execution must therefore be stayed and the AG must advise the Cabinet and the President urgently on this matter to stay the execution pending the outcome of the Malaysian proceedings as set out above.

For a background on this particular case, please see the Facebook post below by my colleague Eugene Thuraisingam:

Please contact me at mravilaw1@gmail.com to find out more.