At least four people reportedly executed in Singapore in 2019 for drug-related and murder charges.
Punithan Genasan, a 37-year-old Malaysian, received the sentence for his role in a 2011 heroin transaction.
First criminal case where a death sentence pronounced by remote hearing in Singapore.
A man sentenced to death in Singapore through a Zoom video call within the country’s first case where such a decision delivered remotely.
Court documents on Wednesday revealed that Punithan Genasan, a 37-year-old Malaysian, received the sentence on Friday for his role in a 2011 heroin transaction.
With the country under strict lockdown to halt the spread of Coronavirus.
“For the safety of all concerned in the proceedings, the hearing for Public Prosecutor v Punithan A/L Genasan carried out by video conferencing.”
A spokesperson for Singapore’s Supreme Court said in response to Reuters’ questions, citing restrictions imposed to minimise the spread of the virus. It was the first criminal case where a death sentence pronounced by distant hearing in Singapore, the spokesperson added.
Genasan’s lawyer, Peter Fernando, stated his client received the judge’s verdict on a Zoom call and contemplating an appeal. Whereas Rights groups have criticised the use of Zoom in capital cases all over the world.
Fernando stated he didn’t object to using video-conferencing for Friday’s call because it was solely to receive the judge’s verdict with no further legal arguments to be heard.
“Singapore’s use of the death penalty is inherently merciless and inhumane, and using distant technology like Zoom to condemn a person to death makes it much more so,” stated Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division.
