Lawyers Slam Singapore Court For Complicating Nagaenthran’s Death Sentence Appeal
If both Nagaenthran’s appeal and evaluation are dismissed, then the stay order would no longer be in effect.
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Despite being granted the execution delay by the Singapore High Court, D. Nagaenthran has a new problem that might affect that decision, according to Lawyers for Liberty Advisor N. Surendran.
He said in a statement that within hours after the stay of execution was granted, the court has decided that Nagaenthran’s appeal hearing will be done on 9 November 2021 at 2:30 pm while his psychiatric assessment is fixed at 2:30 pm on the same date.
If both matters are dismissed, Surendran said, then the stay order would no longer be in effect.
Once the stay order no longer takes effect, Nagaenthran will still be subject to the death sentence, and all the work Malaysians have put into appealing his case would be for naught.
READ MORE: Singapore Temporarily Suspends Execution of Malaysian Prisoner Nagaenthran
These court directions have unusually all come late in the evening today.
Lawyers for Liberty Advisor N Surendran
The association also questioned the court of appeal for giving out the directive on the evening of 8 November for written submissions and affidavits to be filed by 10:00 am the next morning.
No lawyer can be reasonably expected to file written submissions and prepare and file affidavits overnight. It is a plainly absurd direction from the court with what appears to be the pre-determined intent to dismiss both sets of hearings on 9 November.
Lawyers for Liberty Advisor N Surendran
Surendran mentioned that unreasonable court directions and the rush to have both hearings heard in less than 24 hours is a denial of due process to Nagaenthran, which is contrary to Article 9 of the Singapore Constitution.
He added that no criminal justice system in any country which upholds the rule of law rushes through criminal appeals in this manner; especially for a death penalty case.
What is the need for this disturbing hurry? Is it to enable Nagaenthran to be executed on 10th November in defiance of civilised opinion?
Lawyers for Liberty Advisor N Surendran
In the same statement, the LfL has urged that Nagaenthran’s lawyers be given adequate and reasonable time to prepare their case which involves complex issues and the life of a mentally disabled human being.
And while the stay of execution granted today, it must be maintained until these hearings are properly and fairly disposed of. To do otherwise, will do irremediable damage to the reputation of the Singapore judiciary and government.
Lawyers for Liberty Advisor N Surendran
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