[Deathpenalty]death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

March 16


AUSTRALIA/SINGAPORE:

Police deal may save drug trafficker from death penalty----A 24-year-old
Melbourne man on death row for drug trafficking in Singapore may be thrown
a lifeline.


It has been revealed Nguyen Tuong Van has been providing the Australian
Federal Police with information over an Australian-based international
drugs syndicate.

His lawyers are hoping his assistance will improve his appeal for
clemency, as Singapore's constitution states a pardon is possible if a
co-accused gives evidence which leads to the conviction or arrest of a
principal offender.

Nguyen's lawyer Lex Lasry has told the ABC'S AM program there is a glimmer
of hope.

"It's important because the Singapore constitution itself recognises that
people who assist authorities with this kind of information are deserving
of particular treatments and it's significant that he's supported as he is
by the Australian Federal Police," he said.

Nguyen received an automatic death sentence last March under Singapore's
tough drug laws after he was caught carrying almost 400 grams of heroin.

At his trial, Nguyen said he was smuggling the heroin in an attempt to
raise money to pay off his twin brother's legal debt.

(source: ABC News)