Court of Appeal extends stay of execution for Kho Jabing
Kho Jabing, a Malaysian sentenced to hang for a robbery which resulted in a man's death, was granted a last-minute stay of execution last week.
SINGAPORE: The five-judge Court of Appeal on Monday (Nov 23) extended the stay of execution for Kho Jabing, a Malaysian man convicted of murder, pending the delivery of their judgement concerning his application for his case to be reviewed by them a second time.
The 31-year-old Kho, who hails from Sarawak, was granted a temporary reprieve less than 24 hours before he was due to be executed last week. The prosecution called Kho’s appeal “a disappointed litigant’s attempt” to escape the gallows, and dismissed Kho’s assertion that he had been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
He had been sentenced to hang in 2010 for a robbery which resulted in a man's death. Kho had used a tree branch to strike the victim's head, causing multiple skull fractures and swelling of the brain. Kho's accomplice escaped the gallows after he appealed, while Kho's own appeal failed.
Kho’s lawyer Chandra Mohan K Nair said his client’s latest appeal is in fact “concerned with matters of fundamental constitutional importance”, as Kho’s right to “a fair trial and fair sentencing” were not addressed at the previous hearing.
The five judges said they would reserve their judgment to review the submissions of the prosecution and Mr Mohan.
Kho’s mother and sister, who had travelled from Malaysia to attend the hearing, were allowed to spend a few minutes with him after court had been adjourned. They emerged from the courtroom teary and declined to speak to the media.
