[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: The rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has criticized the Singapore government and accused it of persecuting lawyer M Ravi, who represents Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, a Malaysian sentenced to death in the city-state.
This comes after Ravi was fined S $ 10,000 by the Disciplinary Court of the Singapore Law Society following a complaint from the attorney general there during a press conference held by the lawyer and LFL in July 2019.
At the press conference, Ravi had criticized Singapore for planning to execute Nagaenthran, who was convicted of drug trafficking, saying his client was mentally ill and, with an IQ of just 69, had little understanding of the situation in the one that was.
LFL adviser N Surendran said Singapore was targeting Ravi for speaking up and calling for justice for the Malaysian, adding that this was shocking and unacceptable.
In a statement today, he urged Singapore to retract the fine issued to Ravi and overturn the guilty sentence against him.
He said there should be no further attempts to interfere with, intimidate or silence the attorney.
“Ravi is the lawyer for the Nagaenthran family. Therefore, it is a serious interference by the Singapore authorities in the right of Nagaenthran and his family to receive legal advice and assistance.
“The unfounded punishment imposed on Ravi by the Singapore authorities is a violation of international legal standards as well as of Singapore’s own constitution.
“Article 9 of the Singapore Constitution enshrines the right to a fair trial. Punishing the lawyer for the Nagaenthran family for the performance of her duties jeopardizes this right, ”she said.
Surendran also called on Singapore to respect the rights of those sentenced to death to seek legal advice and defense.
“We further urge the Malaysian government to make the necessary objections or representations to the Singapore government over the ongoing intimidation of the Nagaenthran family’s legal advisers,” he said.
Ravi’s office had been raided by Singapore police earlier this year, which the LFL said was related to his vigorous defense of the rights of Malaysian death row prisoners in the republic.
