Yong Vui Kong
Yong Vui Kong | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 January 1988[1] |
| Criminal status | Pending execution |
| Criminal charge | Drug trafficking |
| Penalty | Death sentence |
Yong Vui Kong is a Malaysian citizen who has been sentenced to death by hanging in Singapore for carrying heroin.
Personal life
Yong is from a low-income family in the state of Sabah, Malaysia. He was working as a "runner" (meaning courier or mule) for an unidentified criminal boss,[2] when he was arrested in 2007 with 47.27 grams (1.667 oz) of heroin. He was 19 years old at the time, and thus not an adult (the age of majority in Singapore is 21 years). He is also said to be illiterate,[citation needed] and did not know that the penalty for smuggling drugs was death or that the package he was carrying contained drugs.
Yong was originally represented in the High Court by Kelvin Lim. Due to Yong's young age, and since execution is mandatory for a person convicted of trafficking in more than 15 grams (0.53 oz) of diamorphine, the trial judge Justice Choo Han Teck asked the Prosecution to consider reducing the charge against him. The Prosecution declined, and Yong was found guilty and sentenced to death.[3]
Human rights lawyer Madasamy Ravi took over Yong's case and succeeded in obtaining a stay of execution. However, on 14 May 2010, the Court of Appeal of Singapore ruled in Yong Vui Kong v. Public Prosecutor that the mandatory death penalty imposed by the Misuse of Drugs Act[4] did not infringe Articles 9(1) and 12(1) of the Constitution.[5]
Defence lawyers have argued that Yong's execution violates human rights and the separation of powers in government.[6] M. Ravi has asked Malaysia to bring the case to the International Court of Justice.[5]
References
- ^ Happy birthday, Vui Kong, January 23, 2011, The Star (Malaysia)
- ^ Young Malaysian Facing Execution in Singapore Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples, 10 November 2009.
- ^ Save Vui Kong: Yong Vui Kong's journey.
- ^ Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 185, 2001 Rev. Ed.).
- ^ a b Save Malaysian on death row in Singapore, Loyar Burok (Malaysian law blog).
- ^ Heroin smuggler challenges Singapore death sentence. The Guardian, 15 March 2010.
External links
