More time for clemency plea
Aug 26, 2010
More time for clemency plea
<!-- by line --> By Kor Kian Beng
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> THE Prisons Department has extended the deadline for convicted Malaysian drug trafficker Yong Vui Kong to file a plea for presidential clemency, from today to a date to be fixed. The decision was conveyed to Yong's lawyer, Mr M. Ravi, in a letter yesterday afternoon, shortly after he filed an appeal against a recent High Court ruling that dismissed his application for a judicial review of the clemency process.
Mr Ravi had argued that the process by which the President grants pardons - on the advice of the Cabinet - is flawed. But the court dismissed the application on Aug 13, saying the power to pardon lies with the Cabinet and not the President.
In his judgment, Justice Steven Chong also invited the Prisons Department to extend the deadline for Yong's clemency plea till after the Court of Appeal had reached its decision on the dismissal. In the meantime, civil society efforts to try to save Yong's life continued apace.
Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.