Malaysia’s top court reduces first death sentences under new law

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia´s highest court reduced the sentences of seven death row inmates to life in prison on Tuesday, four months after the country abolished mandatory capital punishment.

Under a new law, which took effect in July, judges have the option to impose lengthy prison sentences of up to 30 years. Previously, convictions for several offences, including murder and drug trafficking, came with automatic death penalties. Since then, the Federal Court has been reviewing previous death penalty decisions.

Lawyers for more than 860 death row inmates have applied to have their clients´ sentences downgraded. The first batch of rulings was handed down on Tuesday.

Seven inmates, including five Malaysians and two Thai nationals, had their death sentences for drug trafficking commuted to life in prison. Life imprisonment in Malaysia is defined as 30 years in jail and prisoners can be freed for good behaviour after serving one third of their sentence.