Singapore: Judicial review of Malaysian inmates on death row dismissed

The leave application filed by the inmates and their mothers to compel the Malaysian government to refer Singapore to an international court claiming denial of a fair trial have been dismissed by the High Court here, The Star reported.

S. Prabagaran, 30, and factory worker K. Datchinamurthy, 32, are on death row in Singapore for drug trafficking.

Justice Hanipah Farikullah struck out the applications in chambers on Thursday, with the counsel N. Surendran saying they were dismissed on the grounds that the matter was related to foreign policy and the court has no jurisdiction to interfere.

“We will definitely appeal as we think the decision is wrong.

“This is regarding the treatment of our citizens abroad. So our view is that the court could interfere and issue the necessary order,” he said to reporters.

Prabagaran and Eswary are applying to the High Court in Malaysia to compel the Government here to take his case to ICJ.

They have named the Malaysian Government and its Foreign Affairs Minister as respondents.

Among others, they are seeking a declaration that the respondents are legally obliged to protect and give effect to Prabagaran’s right to a fair trial and life and liberty.

Datchinamurthy and his mother Letchumi, according to media reports, are seeking a declaration from the Malaysian Government and its Foreign Ministry that they are legally obliged to protect and give Datchinamurthy a right to a fair trial and/or right to life and liberty.