Man will not be deported

Press, 14 June 1978, Page 3

Man will not be deported

PA Wellington The Court of Appeal has ; cancelled a recommendation 1 for the deportation of a > Singapore citizen, convicted ’ for importing heroin, be- ’ cause of Singapore’s death ' penalties for similar charges. 5 Baharuddin Mamud, aged 5 (24, a house painter, had appealed against both the desiportation recommendation s and a 10-year prison sen- • j fence imposed in the Su- ( preme Court for the offence. The Court dismissed the appeal against sentence. It said the quantity of the drug seized was large, and that the appellant was a dealer acting on his own behalf rather than a courier or middle-man. “There can be no doubt that this man has committed a very serious offence and it may be thought that in due course steps should be taken to have him deported,” said

the judgment of the Court, which comprised Mr Justice Woodhouse, Mr Justice Richardson, and Mr Justice: Somers. But deportation did not require a prior judicial’ (recommendation. If and when the Minister of Justice) decided to promote his own! (inquiries, he would be in a! (position to make a proper) (assessment of all the factots) ’which should be taken into) account, the judgment said. A failure now to recommend deportation would not) put an end to that issue. “The present position is that he (the appellant) has) been sentenced in New Zea-! 1 land to imprisonment for the) ilong term of 10 years. “It would not be right on humanitarian grounds and it) ;is unnecessary for procedural! (reasons that he should be! ) left throughout that very 1 long period facing a formal recommendation for deportation with the possible consequence of a capital charge at the end of it,” the judgement said.