Amnesty urges government to halt execution of brothers convicted of murder
In this 2010 file photo, Suthar (left) and Rames are being led out of the High Court in Seremban.
PETALING JAYA: Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) is urging the Government to stop the execution of two brothers on Friday in view of a pending application for a royal pardon.
Brothers Rames and Suthar Batumalai, who were convicted for murder in April 2010, have less than 12 hours before execution, said AIM executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu.
The clemency application was submitted to the Negri Sembilan Pardons Board on Thursday by Haresh Mahadevan & Co.
Shamini said that the Pardons Board must be given time to review the application.
"The family is distraught and are appealing to the Yang di-Pertuan Negri Sembilan to spare their lives," she said in a statement Thursday night.
She added that the family of Rames, 44, and Suthar, 39, were only informed on Wednesday that they should visit the brothers for the last time on Thursday ahead of their execution.
The brothers were found guilty of a murder committed in Feb 2006.
According to Shamini, the pair was moved from their respective detention facilities to Kajang Prison, where the executions are set to take place.
"The death penalty can never be justified regardless of the crime committed. The authorities must immediately take a step to prevent this double execution," Shamini said, adding that AIM was not downplaying the seriousness of any crime committed.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/23/amnesty-urges-government-to-halt-execution-of-brothers-convicted-of-murder/#cdSePrxGcwEvfyDU.99
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