Amnesty International today called for Tan to grant Kho clemency immediately, in line with Singapore’s current direction, leaning away from imposing the death penalty.
“Any execution would mark a regressive step at a time when Singapore has made significant strides in terms of reducing the implementation of the death penalty,” said Josef Benedict, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s South East Asia and Pacific Regional Office.
“By granting clemency, President Tony Tan would build on these gains and move Singapore closer to the global trend towards the abolition of this cruel practice.”
The stay of execution comes after lawyer Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss mounted a legal challenge on the constitutionality of certain aspects of the amendments to the mandatory death penalty in the republic.
Chong-Aruldross had sought the stay of execution pending the scheduling of a hearing date for her application to be heard but the judicial commissioner denied issuing a stay of execution.
According to a report by The Star, the judicial commissioner only allowed a temporary stay to be granted while the decision was being appealed.
This was on condition that a notice of appeal be filed by Kho’s lawyers by 11pm last night, which was complied with.
Benedict said that it was time to put an end to the trauma faced by Kho and his family.
“Kho Jabing and his family have already endured the constant distress of an impending execution for far too long.
“It is clear that the facts of the case have been subject to differing interpretations. It is worrying that he was sentenced to death on the basis of this lack of clarity.”
Benedict praised Singapore for trying to reduce the implementation of the death penalty in recent years.
At least 13 cases have been reviewed and ultimately commuted following recent reforms.
Following the official moratorium on executions established in Singapore from 2012 to 2013, at least 13 people have had their death sentences reviewed and eventually commuted and new sentencing discretion has resulted in several individuals being spared the gallows.
“The organisation urges the authorities of Singapore to immediately halt all executions and commute all death sentences, starting with Kho Jabing, as first steps towards the full abolition of the death penalty,” Benedict said.