A new report launched by Monash University, in partnership with Harm Reduction International (HRI) and the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN), has questioned the fair trial standards afforded to more than 1,000 people currently sentenced to the death penalty in Malaysia.
Key findings
Monash University’s research shows that the death penalty in Malaysia has been imposed following proceedings that did not meet fair trial standards either in accordance with international, domestic or cognate common law standards.
There are 1,280 people awaiting the death penalty in Malaysia, who have not experienced fair trial standards either in accordance with international, domestic or cognate common law standards.
In certain drug trafficking trials, the presumption of innocence is undermined because as a result of the double presumptions an accused is presumed to be guilty.
Many of those accused face socio- economic, nationality and language barriers that prohibit their access to the requisite level of legal assistance.
The report, titled ‘Ensuring a Fair Trial: Fair Trial Guarantees & the Death Penalty in Malaysia’, was today launched by Malaysia’s former Chief Justice, Judge Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.
Written by Monash University and the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) with support from Harm Reduction International, the report also makes a number of recommendations, including that the Malaysian Government ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Second Optional Protocol.
“Our case analysis in the Report revealed that the death penalty in Malaysia has been imposed following proceedings that did not meet fair trial standards either in accordance with international, domestic or cognate common law standards,” said report co-author Dr Natalia Antolak-Saper, from the Monash University Faculty of Law.
“Evident throughout this report is that a significant population of those sentenced to death in Malaysia is comprised of individuals convicted of drug offending, many of whom face socio- economic, nationality and language barriers that prohibit their access to the requisite level of legal assistance needed to properly test the prosecution case,” said co-author Ms Sara Kowal, Monash University Capital Punishment Impact Initiative Manager (Partnerships & Clinics).
As at December 2019, 1,280 people were on death row in Malaysia, 89 per cent of these people weremale and more than two-thirds of all persons on death row had been convicted of drug trafficking offences, according to figures from Amnesty International.
“Our research draws on interviews with lawyers who identify some common fair trial challenges including the lack of sufficient funding for legal representation at all stages of the death penalty trial, appeals and clemency stages,” Dr Antolak-Saper said.
“Our analysis of the Malaysian drug trafficking legislation identifies four key challenges to fair trial rights, one of which is that the presumption of innocence is undermined because as a result of the double presumptions an accused is presumed to be guilty.”
Ms Kowal said they found the clemency process to appear at times arbitrary.
“The lack of a legal framework means the process lacks transparency and review, both essential to fair trial rights. Given the stakes are so high in death penalty matters this is particularly problematic,” she said..
Malaysia is one of 35 countries in the world that imposes the death penalty for drug offences and in 2019, was one of 13 countries to actually sentence the accused to death for drug trafficking.
“Capital punishment ends lives, destroys families, and operates in discriminatory and arbitrary ways throughout the world. It has no proven deterrence value or other demonstrated public benefits,” said Ms Kowal.
