Death penalty concerns delay Thailand extradition for man held 1,200 days in Canada custody

[webfact]

In this file image, people line up to be screened to enter the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver, B.C. on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

 

by Andrew Weichel

CTVNews Vancouver.ca Reporter and Senior Producer

 

A man wanted for murder in Thailand has asked to be released from custody as Canadian officials seek assurances he wouldn't face the death penalty if extradited – a process that has already dragged on for nearly two years.

 

The case, which was heard last month in B.C. Supreme Court, highlights the constitutional obligations and sensitive diplomacy involved in Canada's extradition system.

 

The accused – who is named Mzwake Memela, but goes by Prince Michael Obi – was arrested after arriving in Canada in 2019, and according to his lawyer has been in the North Fraser Pretrial Centre for about 1,200 days.

 

Twice Obi has asked to be discharged, first in 2021 then again in 2022, arguing the government lacks the "sufficient cause" required under the Extradition Act to keep him detained, but both times his applications have been dismissed.

 

During Obi's latest attempt, Justice Heather MacNaughton reiterated his prolonged detention has been the result of the Department of Justice's ongoing work to ensure he doesn’t face capital punishment – something she noted officials are "constitutionally required to do" before transferring his custody, and is "for Mr. Obi's benefit."

 

Obi is accused in the murder of Susama Ruenrit, a woman who was found dead by asphyxiation in a Bangkok hotel room in March 2019. There are 35 crimes punishable by capital punishment in Thailand, murder among them.

 

Full story: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/death-penalty-concerns-delay-thailand-extradition-for-man-held-1-200-days-in-b-c-custody-1.5980115

 

-- © Copyright  CTV NEWS VANCOUVER 2022-07-11

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A man wanted for murder in Thailand has asked to be released from custody as Canadian officials seek assurances he wouldn't face the death penalty if extradited

Fine by me mate - 30 years to life in a Thai prison would be far worse than the other option

[Purdey]

I would like to know the other 34 crimes that carry the death penalty. Presumably none have been used for a while.

[jacko45k]

22 minutes ago, Purdey said:

I would like to know the other 34 crimes that carry the death penalty. Presumably none have been used for a while.

http://www.handsoffcain.info/bancadati/asia-middle-east-australia-and-oceania/thailand-17000464

 

[Rhys]

Does this guy have money? Any kinship to Boss?

 

[Tropposurfer]

1 hour ago, Orinoco said:

+1 

Right on !!????????????????

[4MyEgo]

39 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

Especially if you gain financially. 

Regardless, he isn't killing innocent people as the USA does for profit (wars), God bless America !

[Tropposurfer]

So let me get this straight. This POS murders someone in cold blood, calculatedly with malice, murdered, a woman no less, run away after murdering someone to avoid paying for his sickening crime, and then is helped to avoid the laws of the country you murdered someone in by the government of another country. And people are all surprised, incredulous, and peed off that our world is in the state its in ... Blimey!!!

[Tropposurfer]

2 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I can't stand people who swallow everything they are told, that said, I would invite this intellectual woke man into my house anytime, as apart from those who sleep all day believing the BS that is put on their plate on a daily basis.

Oh Please ????

[Pouatchee]

Red Bull!  or rather bullshout... they get people extradited when it is convenient and others not.

[Emdog]

Is Thailand being billed for incarceration cost? Money often a good incentive for getting wheels rolling..

[John Drake]

Not much background information in this story. More here:

 https://www.naijaprey.com/nigerian-man-flees-thailand-after-murdering-a-jeweler/

[Stargeezr]

This piece of dirt should have been sent back to Thailand months ago.

  The fact that he is trying to go free in Canada, shows this. He should go back to Thailand

even though the death penalty still exists in the country, after all he did murder someone.

[Rimmer]

Off topic post and replies removed

[Purdey]

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

http://www.handsoffcain.info/bancadati/asia-middle-east-australia-and-oceania/thailand-17000464

 

Thanks. The link was in Italian but I found the English version eventually. It doesn't list 35 offences unfortunately. In general, anything that results in death seems to be the norm.

[hotchilli]

Better off in Canada, I don't understand why he would prefer a long spell in a Thai prison

[jacko45k]

15 hours ago, Purdey said:

Thanks. The link was in Italian but I found the English version eventually. It doesn't list 35 offences unfortunately. In general, anything that results in death seems to be the norm.

The main text was in English on my lappy.... 

[Xonax]

On 7/11/2022 at 9:26 AM, Tropposurfer said:

So let me get this straight. This POS murders someone in cold blood, calculatedly with malice, murdered, a woman no less, run away after murdering someone to avoid paying for his sickening crime, and then is helped to avoid the laws of the country you murdered someone in by the government of another country. And people are all surprised, incredulous, and peed off that our world is in the state its in ... Blimey!!!

NO murderers should go free of punishment, because Thailand have the death penalty. Other countries should respect, that some countries still have the death penalty and that this could be for a good reason. 

Edited July 12, 2022 by Xonax