EU urges Singapore to reinstate halt on executions

SINGAPORE — The European Union (EU) has called on the authorities in Singapore to reinstate its halt on capital punishment, following the execution of a convicted murderer here last week.

Reiterating its opposition to the use of capital punishment, the EU said in a statement yesterday it has consistently called for universal abolition of the penalty, which it describes as “cruel and inhumane”.

“The European Union calls on the Singaporean authorities to stop all pending executions and to reinstate its earlier moratorium on capital punishment as a first step towards definitive abolition of the death penalty,” it added.

The statement came after Muhammad Kadar, 39, was executed on April 17 at Changi Prison Complex after he was convicted of stabbing a 69-year-old neighbour to death in her flat while robbing her. He is the first murderer to be sentenced to death after the law was changed to give judges discretion to mete out life imprisonment and caning instead for certain murder offences.

A statement released by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) last week said Muhammad had been accorded full due process under the law and was represented by a lawyer throughout the legal process.

“The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal against conviction on July 5, 2011,” said the SPF. “On Sept 29 last year, after hearing further arguments, the Court of Appeal dismissed his application for re-sentencing under the new death penalty regime and affirmed the sentence of death.” The SPF added that Muhammad’s petition for clemency was also rejected. LAURA PHILOMIN