SINGAPORE: Australia makes last ditch appeal for reprieve for convicted drug smuggler due to be hanged in Singapore

Record ID: 690307

  • Title: SINGAPORE: Australia makes last ditch appeal for reprieve for convicted drug smuggler due to be hanged in Singapore
  • Date: 24th November 2005
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) VICTORIA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB HULLS SAYING: "Well look, I think whilst there's life there's hope. And I think it's important that I present a letter from the Premier Steve Bracks to the minister, that I make the views of the Victorian government crystal clear, that we are vehemently opposed to the mandatory death penalty, and we do believe that there are special circumstances in this case that warrant the government reconsider the petition for clemency" PEOPLE WAITING TO GREET PASSENGERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HULLS SAYING: "I think that the death penalty anywhere throughout the world is a barbaric act, to be frank with you, I think in the year 2005 when you know we certainly cherish justice systems that allow for clemency we cherish justice systems that yes, meter out punishment, but do allow the chance for rehabilitation, it is inappropriate to be executing people. Yes, it's a serious offence, and it would mean a very long jail term I suspect in most other jurisdictions, but to be snuffing out a life of somebody who is so young, who has shown remorse, prepared to assist police, no prior convictions, is inappropriate." HULLS WALKING DOWN CORRIDOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) HULLS SAYING: "I'll be making quite clear, as has the premier has in his letter, that we are vehemently opposed to the mandatory death penalty, we don't believe it has a place in any justice system, and that there are special circumstances involved in this case that do warrant a revisiting of the clemency application" HULLS WALKING DOWN CORRIDOR
  • Embargoed: 9th December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA84GM4GSBRC6K8CKCRQW8S79EN
  • Story Text: Singapore rebuffed calls on Wednesday (November 23) to reprieve an Australian drug smuggler who is due to hang next week, hours before a senior law officer arrived from Melbourne to make a last-ditch plea for the man's life. The move appeared to all but seal the fate of 25-year-old Nguyen Tuong Van, whose December 2 execution Australian Prime Minister John Howard said earlier in the day could now only be stopped by the Singapore government. Lawyers for Nguyen had asked the Australian government on Monday (November 21) to take the case to the United Nations International Court of Justice, but Howard said the court has no jurisdiction and there was no point giving Nguyen's mother any false hope.
    In a letter to Australian members of parliament which was quoted by the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the speaker of Singapore's parliament said Nguyen must be made an example of. "He was caught in possession of almost 400g (0.9 lb) of pure heroin, enough for more than 26,000 doses of heroin for drug addicts," Abdullah Tarmugi wrote to his Australian counterpart, David Hawker. "He knew what he was doing and the consequences of his actions."
    "We cannot allow Singapore to be used as a transit for illicit drugs in the region. We know this is a painful and difficult decision for Mr Nguyen's family to accept, but we hope you and your colleagues will understand our position." Victoria state Attorney General Rob Hulls landed in Singapore later on Wednesday to plead for the Melbourne man's reprieve. "While there is life there is hope. I will be imploring the Singapore government to revisit the issue of clemency tomorrow," he told a small crowd of journalists at the airport.
    Australia has said Nguyen was carrying drugs from Cambodia -- via Singapore -- to help his brother repay debts to loan sharks. It has asked for clemency on the grounds that Nguyen had cooperated and could be a witness in future drug cases. Opposition Labour leader Kim Beazley said that while it was unlikely an appeal to the International Court of Justice would be successful, Australia should still proceed with the case.
    "It's not simply just about winning -- it's about putting on a bit of pressure," Beazley told reporters on Wednesday (November 23). A television straw poll on Wednesday( November 23) showed that 43 percent of Australians believed Nguyen's case should be taken to the International Court of Justice, while 48 percent agreed with Howard that nothing more could be done.
    Internet lobby group www.getup.org.au said nearly 6,000 Australians had emailed Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, while Amnesty International received several thousand text messages supporting its campaign opposing Nguyen's hanging. Although Howard has dismissed calls for trade sanctions to be imposed on Singapore over the case, human rights campaigners have suggested Australians boycott companies linked to the city-state.
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