By Choo Zheng Xi
Mr M Ravi, the lawyer for death row inmate Yong Vui Kong on Wednesday filed a judicial review application to ask the Singapore courts to hold that his client’s right to a fair clemency hearing has been undermined.
Mr Ravi’s application argued that the clemency process has been so prejudged that the court should issue an order of prohibition to prevent the execution and the clemency process from moving ahead.
The application cited Law Minister K Shanmugam’s comments on Yong’s case on 9 May 2010 and the Ministry of Law’s subsequent press release on 9 July as having “irreversibly tainted the clemency process with apparent bias”.
Mr Shanmugam’s comments on 9 May were made at a community event when a member of the audience asked about Yong’s case in relation to the government’s policy on drug trafficking. Mr Shanmugam replied: “Yong Vui Kong is young. But if we say ‘We let you go’, what is the signal we are sending?”
The Ministry of Law’s statement on 9 July further re-stated the government’s position on Yong and the death penalty by highlighting that he “had also trafficked in other drugs such as Ketamine, Ecstasy, Ice and Erimin 5 when he was arrested”.
Mr Ravi’s rebuttal in a press statement noted that the additional trafficking charges were never brought and proven in open court, and that the Law Ministry’s highlighting of them further prejudiced the clemency process by highlighting the government’s antipathy towards Yong.
Mr Ravi’s application also argued that the Elected President’s powers under Article 22P of the Constitution has been usurped by Cabinet in advance of the clemency petition being received. He cited then Attorney-General Walter Woon’s comments in court that “The President does not have discretion in this matter (clemency).”
Yong was supposed to have been executed last year in December but Mr Ravi managed to obtain a stay of execution to challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty four days before the execution. Yong’s appeal was subsequently rejected on 14 May 2010. Judicial review is one of his last chances at halting the execution.
————–
Disclaimer of interest: Zheng Xi is helping M Ravi with Vui Kong’s case. He has taken a hiatus from editorial while the case is ongoing.
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
If you like this article, please consider a small donation to help theonlinecitizen.com stay alive. Please note that we can only accept donations from Singaporeans. Thank you for your assistance.Do you have a flair for writing? Volunteer with us. Email us your full name and contact details to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com
When there are so many “extenuating circumstances” that have now envelope the case, clearly it is near impossible for a reasonable mind to believe that there can be any justice serve in Singapore – let alone any opportunity for clemency.
With the Pro Alien Party insisting to put its fingers on every aspect and events, appointments and positions, private and public matters – even to the extent of trimming the powers of the Elected President – do Singaporeans have a chance for any independent and fair hearing ?
Clearly, if Singaporeans keep silent now, the day will come when the Law crashes down on any one of us – who will then speak for you !!!
Some of the cases mentioned in the book “The Jolly Hangman” – have highlighted some possible miscarriage of justice.
Then there was the clear cut blow by blow daily reporting of the kangaroo court proceedings in the Tan Wah Piow trials – no one was able to speak out against the powers of state that the Pro Alien Party employed to fix Tan Wah Piow.
Time for Singaporeans to reflect as to what kind of Singapore do we want to leave for our children and the generations that come after.
You know the PAP has lost it when you hear MM not only blaming Singaporeans for expecting and striving to be perfect, when best, betterer and betterest is the new order of the day, but to use it to explain the shortcomings of his government on what they cannot do, and to pin the blame on “acts of God” which no one can act against, not when it happens once in fifty years.
Hi, Mr M.Ravi
Well done, say thanks on behalf of M’sian Chinese .
Ravi, well done! Keep up the good work and keep up the fight. I’m no lawyer but for years I’ve though there was something very wrong with the legal system, hearing from lawyer friends and reading about the ISD detainees.
Mr. Ravi
Well done, thank you on behalf of human kind.
So much time, money and lives wasted just because Singapore still wants to continue with the death penalty. Come on, if you can allow the casinos after telling us for donkey years that they’re bad and not good for the people. It’s time that the govt listened that we don’t want to kill anyone anymore.
Mr Ravi, I appreciate your never-say-die spirit, but most of all I respect your willingness to go to great lengths pro-bono to help a helpless young man whose life is hanging by a thread. Sir, you have many friends who support your selfless dedication to justice and quality of mercy.
Ravi, one day you will be a great man, bigger and better than those PAP clowns.
@gemami – you have excellently summed up the incompetence, the inconsistency and the hypocrisy of the gahmenet, exposed glaringly in the past few incidents, in that short post of yours.
Well done.
Everything can be debated. Ravi certainly has a case.
Ravi is rare in singapore. Rare but he has a point as well.
Ravi contributes to society by encouraging people to discuss issues like this. There is no clear right or wrong. Everything is debatable.
So, Ravi has done the right thing to challenge the status quo.
GOD bless you , Mr Ravi.
Yes Ravi has a good heart. He is not only compensationate and also determined to save an innocent life. The other law minitoot, has a sad life, with high million salaries that will not guarantee god wants him in heaven.
Ravi, bravo for your tenacity.
Yes Ravi is definitely a person who fights for the underdogs. Having spoken to him in person, he also projected a down-to-earth, friendly and approachable image. If you notice, repeatedly the lapdog local “media” will always avoid mentioning his name (if they could) in their reportings, even in the recent Alan Shadrake incident.
I am perplexed….
Now with the arrest of Alan Shadrake, author of a book on the MDP and now with this Yong’s case, where both the cases are represented by Ravi.
Now, is this ‘An Act of God’, both coming together at the same time to highlight Singapore’s MDP cases and how it is handled.
Good going Ravi, you are very focused on the right track…. and take care of your health.
Old man LKY’s left eye was twitching away during the interview and words running with a slur.
I just wonder why these guys cannot do their jobs and keep falling back on someone who is 86 or so.
“what is the signal we are sending?” It is a life and death situation, still concern about some signals? Anyway, rest assured that it will only send good signals about Singapore that it is a compassionate and human state. It is an opportunity to achieve such a noble signal without having to spend millions on things like YOG and sports. People who should be punished are the masterminds not some courier boys.
Ravi,
consider standing next GE
we need people like u to displaced some of the trash MPs who are rubbing their balls in office
@@@@I just wonder why these guys cannot do their jobs and keep falling back on someone who is 86 or so.@@@@
no other planet can shine better if the sun is always there stealing the limelight.
once the sun is no longer there, all of us will see darkness as our sight is being conditioned to see the light for too long.
Ravi’s IQ is certainly above average. He has proven his talent.
But singaporeans generally are not ready to discuss issues especially controversial ones . They may feel uneasy or are shy . even the males.
I have a question. Ravi is definitely a smart guy to raise his profile by taking on all these high profile cases, even when he loses most of them. However, does he charge for all these cases? I don’t think so. It’s mostly pro bono? If so, where does all the money come from for lawyers like Ravi? Just curious. Most lawyers I know are cut-throats.
this thingie tencents has a pathetic value system. To him people must be paid lots of money to work.
There is another singapore lawyer that does bono sometimes.
some of our leaders for example, they work out of love for the country you know? You think all only think about how much they can be paid? Some are ok to sacrifice you know?
your thinking is not that shallow right?
Well, our leaders are paid way too much.
For Ravi, you need to make a living my friend. It’s not about being shallow. I mean he even fly to Malaysia to lobby for his clients. You need money to do all these things right. No qualms about the nobility of going bono, but one got to be also realistic. Either he is rich to begin with, then earning must come from somewhere?
keep up the good work… and thanks for giving the rest of us a glimmer of hope. Things might yet change cos there’s ppl like u.
@ten cents
Am sure that Ravi being a solicitor would have other clients who may support him by giving him some legal cases to handle like conveyancing when they purchase property or other legal work. So if supporters can pass him more legal work (chargeable, of course) then he will be able to sustain his firm even when taking on pro bono cases.
Ravi, GOD on your side.
tencents,
you don’t seem to know lawyers belong to the upper middle class in society in terms of earnings?
a flight to malaysia you say it like a personal jet flight to USA or Europe.
you should change name to -100 cents.
“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
Hebrews 13:3
Ravi, God is on your side. Fear the Creator, not any man-made idol! I salute you Ravi.
Will be praying for you for strength & wisdom. Take care bro.
A Singaporean, Ang Eng Thye have been given the death sentence by a Malaysia court today!
Please help save Ang Eng Thye from the hangman’s noose…
=================================
Drug Trio Sentenced To Gallows By Shah Alam High Court
SHAH ALAM, July 22 (Bernama) — The Shah Alam High Court on Thursday sentenced three men, including a Singaporean, to the gallows for trafficking in 2.1kg of methamphetamine, three years ago.
Foreman Gan Thean Lim, 46; mosaic layer Gan Thiam Boon, 35; and Singaporean Ang Eng Thye, 47, a building contractor, were found guilty of trafficking in the drugs.
The offence was committed in Room 7107, Pyramid Tower Hotel, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya on Feb 6, 2007.
They were convicted under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act which carries the mandatory death penalty.
Another accused, Lam Chong Chooi, 55, who was originally charged with the three man, was acquitted by Judge Dr Badariah Sahamid as there was doubt in his (Lam’s) role as sentry for the drug transaction.
In his defence, Lam, a coffeeshop worker, told the court he was at the hotel lobby to watch ice-skating and denied any knowledge of the three accused, and his presence in the room where the transaction happened.
She said the testimony from an agent provocateur who was in the room during the transaction with the three accused, was consistent.
In their defence, the three said they were gambling in the room and that there was another man nicknamed ‘Specky’, who was involved in the transaction, apart from the agent provocateur.
Nevertheless, Dr Badariah said, there was no detail provided on ‘Specky’, adding that there was no gambling paraphernalia like dice or bowl found in the room.
She said, while the three claimed there was a man whom they referred to as ‘Mak’, who came to the room to meet them, Mak’s statement was doubtful because he could not give details of the room.
She said the trio failed in their defence and were found guilty of drug trafficking.
– BERNAMA
Singapore has NO idea the amount of irreparable damage it has brought on to itself globally. Well deserved. It’s about time the world sees its true colors!
God bless you Ravi !!!
@tencents
Has it even occurred to you that now the gah-men will be monitoring Ravi and he is marked for embarrassing this dictatorship? How much money then are you willing to be paid for such persecution?
Ravi, I am so proud of you!! You have indeed lived up to your ideals. You have proven that you are not only successful but also a man with dreams to fulfill despite the odds. I was wrong in 1999. Happy for you
I do appeal to the authorities to approve the judicial review in the interest of the public. It is important that justice has to be seen to be done and in a case of a capital punishment, it is of great importance for public confidence to be secured.
In my view the areas of review is needed to clear public doubts on:
1) Why has clemency not given surounding mitigting circumstances especially when Yong Vui Kong was 19 (a mere teenager) when he was arrested
2) What are the due processes in an appeal for clemency to the President
3) Is it true that the President does not have the right to decide without the advice of the cabinet?
4) Did what the Law Minister’s statement detriment and compromised the outcome of the Presidential appeal?
It is of great importance to the interest of Singapore as an advanced developed nation and the spirit of our nation for the authorities, if i may say the Prime Minister should address to clear the air on this matter. Else i think it is of paramount importance the appeal process be reviewed or re-visited
is Ravi trying to be the nxt JBJ, i think better not , be a smart lawyer like davinder or subash anandan ,just do ur wrk and mind ur own buis, if u try be like JBJ cfm gone case liao, morover ethinc support is less in numbers which cld put him in disadv, am being practicle.
Mr Ravi,
Keep up the good work and keep up the fight so that there is justice for all.
May God bless you and your family.
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw00/001218lr.htm rujuk affidavit membawa MUIS ke mahakamh Tinggi Singapura mengenai Hak 152, 153 dan Human Right dan Kenyataan dari Lily Zubaidah Rahim ikuti kes tersebut…
Salam Face Book & Perkenalan,
Tuan & Rakan Face Book –
Peguam M Ravi ada nyatakan kes isu-isu melayu dan islam akan di tangani untuk di persoalkan atau kamu juga boleh berurusan dgn Puan Lily Zubaidah Rahim di Blog nya atau ke Face Book, disebabkan Peguam Melayu Islam takut untuk mengambil isu-isu Islam dan Melayu juga isu Politik di Singapura.
Isu Article 152, 153 & Human Right membawa MUIS ke High Court pada 26hb April 2011 jam 10 pagi oleh Mohammed Alias Bin Abdullah, Semua Rakyat di minta hadir untuk menyokong Hak yang telah hilang tanpa sebab untuk dimiliki kepada orang Melayu mendapat restu dan telah Diberkati Allah SWT.
Kes Raffi Satay Solo Man bertarikh 22hb March 2011 pula hebat di debatkan dan di mahkamah Court 23 Jam 10pagi di hadirin oleh pihak Media St. Times – Mr. Raffi telah di bebaskan dgn ikat Jamin 8 ribu dolar dengan 3 charge dan setelah hakim Shaiffudin Saruwan menyoal sendiri dengan Mr. Raffi, Hakim menyatakan kepuasahati nya dan berpuashati (Satisfied) bahawa Mr. Raffi waras dan dibenarkan ikat jamin.
Dulu MUIS, Berita Harian dan Polis buat silap kini polis lagi – buat kecoh menyebabkan Berita Harian nyatakan Kecoh lagi yang di lakukan dari Mr. Raffi yang kini dituduh pula lagi…???
Kesah Kes;-
Pendakwa Raya Polis mengemukakan permohonan kepada mahkamah untuk melanjutkan tempoh reman seminggu lagi ke atas tertuduh ‘Mr. Raffi’ untuk di masukan ke IMH bagi membolehkan nya menyelesaikan pernilaian psikiatrik, dukacita memintaan Pendakwa Raya Polis ditolak kerana yang dituduh ‘waras’ tidak gila untuk dimasukan ke IMH.
Dari keterangan pihak Pendakwa Raya Polis menyatakan kepada Hakim bahawa Adik Raffi yang memberikan keterangan yang Raffi tidak waras atau pernah dirawat di rumah sakit, Dari keterangan tanpa bukti dari IMH polis menerima tanpa usul periksa hanya menerima Aduan orang luar dan terpedaya dan membuat keputusan tanpa rujuk dari IMH dan minta pihak mahkamah pula untuk ‘mereman’ Mr. Raffi Ke IMH.
Benarkah cara Polis menangani dan melaksanakan tugasnya terhadap Mr. Raffi tanpa usul periksa dan bukti dari Pihak IMH dan juga dari mana-mana pertubuhan…???
Siapa Kah Sebenarnya Yang GILA…?
Si Aduan Kah…?
Polis Kah…?
IMH Kah…?
Orang Umum Kah…?
Adik, Anak serta Isteri Mr. Raffi yang sanggup masukan Mr. Raffi dan menuduh Mr.
Raffi Tidak Waras Kah…?
Untuk pengetahuan Umum…!
Mr. Raffi di masuk ke IMH pada 8hb March 2011 atas arahan dari HQ Polis Bedok I.O Andrew Eng Pengawai Polis yang menangani masalah tersebut, Pada tarikh 22hb March 2011 Polis sekali lagi membawa Mr. Raffi kembali ke mahkamah untuk mendakwa Mr. Raffi di Court 23 jam 10 pagi untuk melanjutkan hukuman reman dan memohon perintah reman di teruskan tetapi setelah Peguam M Ravi mempersoalkan kepada Pendakwa Raya ’Polis’ kenapa Mr. Raffi Satay Solo Man di tangkap dan di masukan ke IMH tanpa bukti yang kukuh?
Jawapan dari Pendakwa Raya Polis,
”Pendakwa Raya Polis menyatakan dengan keterangan kepada pihak ’Hakim Shaiffudin Bin Saruwan’ bahawa pihak polis mendapat Aduan dari adik kandung Mr. Raffi sendiri yang abang nya Mr. Raffi kurang waras atau memiliki sakit gila atau bypolar dioder”.….?
Usaha dan Ujah dari Peguam M Ravi berjaya melepaskan Mr. Raffi dari tuduan pihak polis dan membawa keluar beliau dari tahanan polis yang ingin meneruskan reman terhadap beliau untuk di hantar pulang ke IMH setelah Hakim sendiri berbicara dengan Mr. Raffi.
Tujuan pihak polis dan dengan begini memudahkan usaha kes, jika benar Mr. Raffi gila, Mr Raffi atau beliau tidak boleh menjadi calon Bebas atau Calon Parti Pembangkang di pilihan raya kali ini.
Ujah Peguam M Ravi dengan berdasarkan factor dan bukti menyebabkan pihak Makamah membebaskan Mr. Raffi. Pihak Polis tidak dapat menahan Mr. Raffi untuk dibawa pulang ke IMH dan menahan Mr. Raffi seterusnya.
Mr. Raffi dan kumpulannya seramai hampir 20 orang telah siap sedia akan bertanding di pilihan raya kali ini menentang LKY GRC, Shamugam GRC, Goh Cho Tong GRC , Lee S L GRC. Sila rujuk surat khabar 23hb Berita Harian muka surat 2 dan St. Times Pages B6.
Sebelum beliau ditangkap, Mr. Raffi telah mengadakan persidangan khabar pada tarikh 3 March 2011 untuk menjadi Calon menentang LKY MM atas dasar polisi dan Article hak melayu 152 & 153.
Ikuti lah seterus nya kesah Mr Raffi The Satay Solo Man dimana perniagaannya di Khianati dan mendapat kerugian yang menyebabkan beliau hampir menjadi Muflis dan di tuduh gila pula….!!!
Greetings & Introductions Face Book,
Mr. & Friends Face Book –
Lawyer M Ravi no state case and the issues of Muslim Malays will be handled to the question or you can deal with Mrs. Lily Zubaidah Rahim in his blog or the Face Book, because the Malay Muslims Attorney are afraid to take the issues of Islam and Malay Political issues in Singapore.
The issue of Article 152, 153 & Human Rights to the High Court brought MUIS on 26th April 2011 at 10 am by Mohammed Alias Bin Abdullah, All the people are asked to attend to support the rights that have been lost without a reason to hold on the Malays and the blessing God SWT has blessed.
Satay Solo Man Mr. Raffi case dated 22 March 2011 was great in the debate and the state court 23 10 am in audience by the Media St. Times – Mr. Raffi has been freed on bail with eight thousand dollars to three charges, and after the judge asked himself Shaiffudin Saruwan Mr. Raffi, the judge expressed to him satisfied that Mr. Raffi sane and released on bail.
hi,im sukh n all i really want in life is to save save save pple like Yong Vui Kong who is like a brother to me who i never met before but he touched my heart n how his mother must be feeling,i know “Yong Vui Kong is young. But if we say ‘We let you go’, what is the signal we are sending?” but what signal are we sending if there is no 2nd chances in life,it’s like u made a mistake unknowingly n paying for it with our dear lives,what will the people in singapore think of our governments then? they will be thinking we’re giving reasons to kill n not to let this young n innocent but naive boy live? isit??? it’s the heart that matters more not the mind….nobody wants to see young Yong Vui Kong die just for this,everyone wants to see him living his life and helping his mother to overcome her problems taking care of her n making her life worth living for and pls oh pls our heartless governmnents have some heart for once,will ur parents wanna kill him? they wound surely give him a 2nd chance to live his life,n nobody should die unless its really serious like for murder! period!!! No one can be trusted in this world so in god we trust!!!
hey gay ravi, stop ushing your evil agenda on the norm and natural. you son of satan