KUALA LUMPUR – The Federal Court has commuted the death sentences for seven men to 30 years’ jail under temporary jurisdiction following their review applications today.
Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who headed the three-member review panel, allowed the application made by Teh Hock Leong; Salleh Yunos, 52; Wan Marzuki Wan Abdullah, 46; Wan Azman Hassan, 50; and Nazzarimi Sahib, 46; as well as Thai nationals Ouseng Same-Ae, 54, and Mama Sobri Useng, 52, under the Revision of the Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023 (Act 847).
According to FMT, Wan Marzuki and Nazzarimi will also be whipped 12 times as they are below the age of 50.
The four applicants who had appealed against their life imprisonment under Act 847, namely Ghazalee Kasim, 53; Junaidi Hussein, 52; Zulkipli Arshad, 48; and Wan Yuriilhami Wan Yaacob, 60, also had their natural life imprisonment terms replaced with life imprisonment of 30 years.
The four had initially been sentenced to death by the Federal Court but filed for clemency before the Pardons Board, which had their punishments commuted to natural-life jail terms.
According to the provisions of Act 847, which came into force on September 12, the Federal Court has the discretionary power to review cases involving the death penalty.
This follows the enforcement of the new law, which is the Mandatory Death Penalty Abolition Act 2023, on July 4.
Under the law, the mandatory death penalty for offences such as drug trafficking and murder was abolished.
The law gives the judge the choice of whether to impose the death penalty or imprisonment for a period of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, the offender can also be whipped not less than 12 times for male prisoners under the age of 50. – November 14, 2023