Singapore gives death penalty verdict via Zoom video-call app

SINGAPORE: Using the popular video-call app Zoom, Singapore has recently sentenced a Malaysian drug trafficker to death.

Punithan Genasan, a 37 year-old-Malaysian convicted guilty for his role in drug deal, has been given death penalty via a Zoom video-call.

According to the police, Genasan was found guilty for his role in a 2011 heroin transaction which resulted in the death punishment.

Singapore has enforced lockdown since early April is extended up to June 1 resulting in the adjourning of many cases requiring instant hearing.

Answering to the queries of Reuters the spokesperson of Singapore’s Supreme Court said that it all for the safety of the involved in the proceeding.

“For the safety of all involved in the proceedings, the hearing for Public Prosecutor v Punithan A/L Genasan was conducted by video-conferencing,” the spokesperson for Singapore’s Supreme Court said.

According to the spokesperson, it was the first criminal case where a death sentence has been pronounced by remote hearing in Singapore.

(With inputs from Agencies)