Singapore: Joint statement on imminent execution of Kho Jabing
We, the undersigned, are troubled by the imminent execution of Jabing Kho in Singapore, despite strong concerns over the development of his case. We believe there are strong grounds for President Tony Tan of the Republic of Singapore to grant clemency in this case.
The family of Sarawakian Jabing Kho, 31, received a letter from the Singapore Prison Service on 12 May 2016 informing them that his execution had been scheduled for 20 May 2016. Jabing was convicted of murder in 2011.
The announcement came as a shock to the family and all involved in campaigning for Jabing. We had been under the impression that the authorities would allow his lawyer to submit a fresh clemency appeal on his behalf after the criminal motion filed in late 2015 was dismissed in April this year.
His lawyer had sent President Tony Tan a holding letter informing them of his intention to file a new clemency petition, and had been in the process of drafting it when the execution was scheduled.
On 13 May 2016, Jabing's lawyer received a letter from the President saying that he would be willing to consider a clemency petition if it is filed, but will not be postponing the scheduled execution. Considering that past practice shows that the President usually takes three months before any
decision regarding clemency is announced, we are concerned that this current state of affairs will leave the Cabinet and the President with insufficient time to properly consider a fresh plea from Jabing.
We do not condone Jabing's crime, nor do we seek to erase the hurt he has caused to the victim's family. Yet the course of Jabing's case has been tumultuous and traumatic. Due to amendments made to Singapore's mandatory death penalty regime and appeals lodged by the prosecution, Jabing had,
over the years, been sentenced to death, then life imprisonment (with caning), then death again. This backandforth has taken a horrific toll not just on Jabing as the inmate, but his family.
Furthermore, one High Court judge and two Judges of Appeal had not believed that the death penalty was an appropriate punishment for Jabing Kho, as they felt that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that he had exhibited a "blatant disregard for human life".
The death penalty does not simply exact an irreversible punishment, but also imposes emotional and psychological tolls on both the inmate and the family and we oppose it unconditionally. Having been resentenced twice, from death to life and back again, Jabing and his family have already been
put through a deeply painful process. The knowledge that three respected and honourable judges hold the belief that the current punishment does not fit the crime simply makes the situation doubly hard to bear.
We believe that Jabing Kho's case presents very strong and persuasive grounds for clemency, and that his death sentence should be immediately be set aside and commuted to life imprisonment as allowed by Singapore's Constitution. We therefore urge the Cabinet of Singapore to advise President
Tony Tan to grant clemency to Jabing Kho without delay and re-establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty.
Signed:
Local Organisations
* Maruah
* Sayoni
* Singapore AntiDeath Penalty Campaign
* Think Centre
* We Believe in Second Chances
Regional/International Organisations
* Advocates Association of Sarawak
* Amnesty International
* Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN)
* Center for Orang Asli Concerns
* Civil Rights Committee KLSCAH
* Damn the Dams
* Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
* People's Green Coalition
* Reprieve Australia
* Sembangsembang
* Forum
* Suara Rakyat Malaysia
* Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP)
Victims' Family Organisations
* Center for Prisoner's Rights Japan
* Journey of Hope
* Ocean
* Individuals
* Abdul Rashid bin Bakar, relative of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Atiqah bte Zaimi, relative of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Haminah bte Abu Bakar, relative of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Idros Ismail, brother of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Jolene Tan, writer and activist
* Kokila Annamalai, activist and community organiser
* Letchumy Arumugam, mother of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Marilyn Siew, activist
* M Ravi, antideath penalty activist
* Osman bin Bakar, relative of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Priya Ratha Krishnan, fiancee of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Sangeetha Thanapal, activist
* Saraswathy Kataiah, sister of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Sean Francis Han, activist
* Sharmila Rockey, sister of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Syida Ismail, sister of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Tan Tee Seng, activist
* Vanessa Ho, activist
* Zaimi Bin Abdul Rahman, relative of inmate on death row in Singapore
* Zarah bte Abu Bakar, relative of inmate on death row in Singapore