Drug courier spared death now challenges caning sentence

[Untouchables]

Drug courier spared death now challenges caning sentence

Published on Apr 28, 2014 9:15 PM

Mr Yong Yun Leong (left), the brother of Yong Vui Kong, and lawyer M. Ravi at the Supreme Court on 14 November 2013. Malaysian drug courier Yong Vui Kong, who was spared the gallows after a string of unsuccessful fights against his death sentence, is now challenging the caning regime in Singapore. -- ST PHOTO: ZAOBAO

By Selina Lum

Malaysian drug courier Yong Vui Kong, who was spared the gallows after a string of unsuccessful fights against his death sentence, is now challenging the caning regime in Singapore.

Yong, 25, was re-sentenced in November last year to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane. This followed changes to the law which give judges the discretion to impose life terms and caning, instead of the previously mandatory death penalty, for drug couriers who help the authorities in a substantive way.

However, Yong filed an appeal last week, asking for his caning sentence to be quashed.

His lawyer M Ravi is challenging the constitutionality of caning, in particular the manner in which the punishment is carried out.

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