On Friday, Singapore executed its first woman in 19 years for drug trafficking, despite calls from human rights groups and the United Nations to abolish the death penalty for drug-related crimes. Saridewi Djamani, 45, was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking 31 grams of pure heroin, and her appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in October. This week, a Malaysian man was also executed for trafficking more than 200 grams of diamorphine.
Posts tagged as “Malaysian”
The 1975 has cancelled their upcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei due to the Malaysian government's decision to cut short a music festival in the wake of the band's lead singer's comments and actions. This has sparked a debate about freedom of expression and the power of governments to restrict it, while the band has promised to return in the future.
Grammy-winning hip-hop star Pras Michel was convicted Wednesday of 10 counts related to a "clandestine foreign influence campaign scheme" funded by Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho. The scheme involved payments to Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign and efforts to influence the Trump administration to drop an extradition case on behalf of China. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Sessions testified in the trial, and Michel faces up to 20 years in prison. The case has highlighted the potential for foreign influence in American politics.
Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Pras Michel is on trial in Washington, D.C. for allegedly conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions and failing to register as an agent of China. He has taken the stand in his own defense, claiming that he accepted $20 million from a Malaysian businessman and used it to pay friends to donate to a political campaign. Prosecutors allege that Michel was attempting to gain access, peddle influence, and make money. Michel's testimony is ongoing and will provide insight into the case.