Stay of execution granted for second death row inmate in Feb

Respite order for Singaporean came 2 days before he was scheduled to hang on Feb 26

- Samuel Devaraj

An order of respite was granted for a death row inmate, two days before he was scheduled to be hanged on Feb 26.

Singaporean Hamzah Ibrahim was convicted of having 26.29g of heroin in his possession for the purpose of trafficking, and sentenced to death in 2017.

The respite order, granted by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, is a stay of execution that does not amount to a pardon.

The President may, on the advice of the Cabinet, grant to any convicted offender any reprieve or respite, either indefinitely or for such period as the President may think fit, of the execution of any sentence pronounced on the offender.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Feb 27 that Hamzah's execution was scheduled on Feb 26 as he had exhausted all legal channels in relation to his conviction and sentence, including the clemency process.

MHA said the order of respite was issued on Feb 24.

It added that the Cabinet has advised the President that an order of respite should be issued for Hamzah after taking into account recent developments in the courts, citing the Court of Appeal's decision to grant a stay of execution for Malaysian Pannir Selvam Pranthaman on Feb 19.

This decision may be relevant to Hamzah's case, MHA said.