O
Orochi
Guest
Singapore
Mar 15, 2010
Drug trafficker's fate unsure
<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
<!-- end by line -->
THE fate of a condemned drug trafficker given another shot at an appeal remains in the balance following arguments made for and against the death penalty by his lawyer and the prosecution before the highest court in the land. The Court of Appeal, which heard the intense legal debate for more than 2 1/2 hours before a packed courtroom on Monday, said it would deliver its decision on Yong Vui Kong's case at a later date. The session saw legal heavyweights in attendance on both sides.
The Attorney-General, Professor Walter Woon, flanked by seven prosecutors, argued the case himself. Yong's lawyer, Mr M. Ravi, had a three-man research team from London, led by a Queen's Counsel, which flew in specially for the hearing. They are doing the case pro bono. Yong, 22, was convicted by the High Court in 2008 of trafficking in 42.27g of heroin and given the death sentence, mandatory for offences involving more than 15g of the drug. He filed an appeal but told his lawyers then to withdraw it, one week before the hearing in April.
Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
Mar 15, 2010
Drug trafficker's fate unsure
<!-- by line --> By Selina Lum
<!-- end by line -->
THE fate of a condemned drug trafficker given another shot at an appeal remains in the balance following arguments made for and against the death penalty by his lawyer and the prosecution before the highest court in the land. The Court of Appeal, which heard the intense legal debate for more than 2 1/2 hours before a packed courtroom on Monday, said it would deliver its decision on Yong Vui Kong's case at a later date. The session saw legal heavyweights in attendance on both sides.
The Attorney-General, Professor Walter Woon, flanked by seven prosecutors, argued the case himself. Yong's lawyer, Mr M. Ravi, had a three-man research team from London, led by a Queen's Counsel, which flew in specially for the hearing. They are doing the case pro bono. Yong, 22, was convicted by the High Court in 2008 of trafficking in 42.27g of heroin and given the death sentence, mandatory for offences involving more than 15g of the drug. He filed an appeal but told his lawyers then to withdraw it, one week before the hearing in April.
Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.