What does Pausi Jefridin’s failed appeal mean for his execution?

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Pausi Jefridin's Appeal Dismissal Means His Execution Will Proceed

Pausi Jefridin, a Malaysian citizen with an IQ of 67, has lost his final legal bid to halt his scheduled execution in Singapore. The Singapore Court of Appeal dismissed an urgent application for a review of his death sentence, confirming his conviction for drug trafficking and paving the way for his imminent hanging. This outcome follows a series of legal challenges that were heard and rejected within a short timeframe.
Dismissal of Urgent Review Application

An urgent application filed by Pausi Jefridin and fellow inmate Roslan Bakar seeking a review of their death sentences and a stay of their executions was heard and dismissed by the Singapore Court of Appeal yesterday afternoon. This decision came after a fresh judicial review application was filed yesterday evening to challenge Singapore's decision to execute them, particularly in light of their intellectual disabilities. Despite a temporary stay of execution granted by the High Court earlier today pending the appeal hearing, the Court of Appeal ultimately rejected their challenge on the same day it was heard.
Background of Conviction and Previous Challenges

Pausi and Roslan were arrested in 2008 and sentenced to death in April 2010 for drug trafficking offences. Their legal team had previously attempted to have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment in 2017, arguing that they were couriers and suffered from an abnormality of mind due to reduced intellectual functioning. However, these applications were rejected by Singapore's High Court and Court of Appeal in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Their families were notified of the scheduled execution on February 9, just a week prior.
Concerns Raised by Human Rights Groups and UN

Human rights organisations, including Lawyers for Liberty and the Malaysian Bar, have expressed strong objections to the execution, highlighting Pausi's IQ of 67, which places him within the range considered intellectually disabled. They have pointed out that Singapore is bound by the UN's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which prohibits the execution of mentally impaired individuals. The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights' spokesman also urged Singapore to stop the execution, commute their sentences, and reform its laws to end the death penalty, stating that its use for drug-related offences is incompatible with international human rights law.
Haste in Legal Proceedings

Lawyers for Pausi and Roslan have criticised the apparent haste with which their appeals were scheduled and heard. Concerns were raised that the Court of Appeal's immediate scheduling of the hearing for an appeal filed on the same day provided inadequate time for legal preparation, potentially breaching principles of natural justice. Lawyers for Liberty noted that the Singapore Attorney-General's Chambers is seeking punitive costs against the defence counsel following the dismissal of the appeal.

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What does Pausi Jefridin’s failed appeal mean for his execution?

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